Beckman, Tressel share family ties

4/30/2005

Studrawa

Tim Beckman working with Jim Tressel is just another sign of family tradition.

Yesterday Beckman, Bowling Green State University's defensive coordinator for the last six seasons, joined Tressel's coaching staff at Ohio State. Their fathers coached together at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and Dave Beckman also played for Lee Tressel at B-W.

Beckman, 40, will coach the Buckeyes' cornerbacks.

"When Jim Tressel called me to come work with him, I jumped at the chance," Beckman said.

Beckman came to BGSU in 1998 to coach the secondary and was named defensive coordinator the next year. He was also assistant head coach the last three seasons. Coach Gregg Brandon announced yesterday that offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa will take over as assistant head coach. Studrawa has coached the Falcons offensive line for four years, and has been coordinator for the last two.

"He's very deserving, it was pretty much a no-brainer," Brandon said. "It's a title that I think is appropriate for him, because being in charge of the offense is like a mini-head coach."

The Falcons' offense was in the top five nationally in five categories last season. Studrawa, 40, said he was flattered by the promotion.

"I think coach Brandon and I think along the same lines on things," Studrawa said. "We work well together."

Brandon said John Bowers, defensive backs coach, and Mike Ward, defensive tackles coach, are candidates to replace Beckman as defensive coordinator. Ward has been a positions coach for five years with BGSU and Bowers for four.

Brandon said he also will look outside the program for candidates. He does not have a timetable on when he will fill the position.

"Bowling Green's a very attractive place to be with what we've done in the past two years," Brandon said.

In 2001, Beckman was a finalist for the Broyles award, given to the nation's top assistant.

He said he was thankful for the opportunity to become a coordinator at a young age and will miss the people he met through BGSU.

When Urban Meyer left BGSU in 2002 to coach at Utah, Beckman had planned to go with him, but the death of his wife's father changed his plans. Beckman's wife, Kim, is from Findlay, and the family decided not to move.

While the Beckmans were at the funeral, friends broke into their house to clean it.

"I've spent seven years of my life with some great people and great players," Beckman said.

The coaching position at Ohio State became open about two weeks ago when former defensive coordinator Mark Snyder left to become the coach at Marshall. Tressel promoted defensive line coach Jim Heacock to coordinator and Luke Fickell, linebackers coach, to co-coordinator.

Tressel also announced yesterday that wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell will be assistant head coach.

Contact Maureen Fulton at:

mfulton@theblade.com

or 419-724-6160.