Indiana University Athletics
Lynch Returns to Indiana
1/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
ynch, who joins his son, Billy (wide receivers coach) on the IU coaching staff, could not be more excited about his return to Bloomington.
"First of all, I am so happy to join Coach Hoeppner's staff. We have a great relationship," Lynch said. "Terry and I have competed against each other off and on for about 25 years, and I am glad that I am now on his side. He's a great football coach and runs a quality program."
Lynch is also anxious to start working with his son, Billy.
"Billy has worked hard at coaching the last few years, and he is just as excited to be back in Bloomington as I am," Lynch said. "I know that he feels fortunate that Coach Hoeppner brought him to Indiana from Miami."
With Signing Day less than two days away, Hoeppner has already secured one of his biggest recruits.
"Bill is so highly respected around this state that this is huge news for our program," Hoeppner said. "Bill has enjoyed success as a head coach at three different institutions, and he and I go back a long way. We coached against each other when I was at Miami, and he was at Ball State, and when I was at Franklin College and he was at Butler. I have always been impressed with how well-coached his teams were on and off the field. Bill's hiring completes an outstanding staff at Indiana."
Lynch returns to Bloomington after directing DePauw to an 8-2 record en route to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors. Lynch is the first coach in SCAC history to earn this award in his debut campaign. Under Lynch's tutelage, seven DePauw players earned All-SCAC first team honors, and the Tigers compiled the second-best, single-season per game rushing total (254.6 yards) in school history. Senior wide receiver Jamarcus Shepard was twice named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American team, and Shepard was one of only two Division III players invited to the 2005 Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Classic. Shepard caught two passes for 25 yards in the game.
Lynch, who owns an 81-67-3 record in 14 seasons as a head coach, was head coach at Ball State from 1995-02. During his tenure in Muncie, Lynch led the Cardinals to the 1996 Mid-American Conference title and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl, as well as the 2001 MAC West championship. Ball State also was recognized by the AFCA for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02. Lynch coached three eventual NFL draft picks during his head coaching career at Ball State, including All-Pro punter Brad Maynard.
A 1977 Butler graduate and four-year letterwinner in football and basketball, Lynch earned conference MVP honors three years at quarterback, led the nation in pass completion percentage in 1975 and captained both sports as a senior.
Upon graduation, Lynch spent seven seasons as a Bulldog assistant coach, including stints as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator. He moved on to Northern Illinois as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 1984 and was quarterbacks coach of the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985.
Lynch returned to his alma mater as head coach in 1985 and compiled a 36-12-3 record over the next five seasons. Butler won four Heartland Collegiate Conference titles during Lynch's tenure, and he won conference Coach of the Year honors three times. Four of Lynch's five squads were ranked among the top 20 of NCAA Division II, and he twice earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year laurels.
Lynch moved on to Ball State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1990-92, where he worked with eventual NFL running backs Bernie Parmalee (Miami Dolphins and New York Jets) and Corey Croom (New England Patriots).
From Ball State, Lynch moved on to Indiana, where he oversaw the quarterbacks in 1993 and 1994 and helped the Hoosiers to the 1993 Independence Bowl.
Lynch and his wife, Linda, have four children - Billy, Kelly, Joe and Kevin..
