Sports
Tim Albin Ready To Lead Bobcat Football As New Head Coach
By: Joe Collins
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Longtime Offensive Coordinator Tim Albin is officially at the helm of Ohio Football.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Albin said during an introductory press conference Thursday. “I’m truly humbled and honored for the opportunity to lead this program.”
The 55-year-old had been the offensive coordinator for the Bobcats since 2005, working through the entire Solich era.
This will be Albin’s second head coaching job. He previously led Northwestern Oklahoma State, a Division II school, to a National Championship in 1999.
Albin is excited for the opportunity to run the Bobcats football program, but acknowledged the sad circumstances of Solich stepping down due to health issues.
“It was tough on me … He’s a big, strong, tough guy and he was able to get through it and it’s bittersweet,” he said. “ But thanks to him, our program is at an all-time high. We’re going to have high expectations because of it and we’re going to have a lot of fun.
“The number one thing [Solich] has taught me over the years is that coach and player relationship. Today’s student athletes respond so much better to old school coaching. I firmly believe in that, and I think that’s our main ingredient that we have with our culture.”
Ohio Athletic Director Julie Cromer said because Albin has been with the program for so long, players have quickly welcomed him as the new head coach.
“I’m happy to say our student athletes have rallied around Coach Albin,” Cromer said. “We had a great message to them yesterday morning and they’re very excited to begin fall camp in just a few weeks as they prepare for the 2021 season.”
The Bobcats’ season starts in less than 2 months. A head coaching chance during summer practices and workout sessions would normally be cause for concern among fans.
However, Albin developed Ohio’s offensive schemes as coordinator for the past 16 years and the program is returning senior players from last season. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 season did not count towards a player’s athletic eligibility.
“With our ‘super seniors’, guys like DeMontre Tuggle, basically putting their life on hold to come back and play because most of them have graduated already, their experience has made the transition into me as head coach much easier,” Albin said.
Albin’s first major responsibility as head coach comes next week, as he heads to MAC Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit on July 20.