Rebowe named Nicholls head football coach

Tim Rebowe, who coached at Louisiana-Lafayette as an assistant for 11 seasons and was a former assistant coach at Nicholls for six years, has been named head football coach at Nicholls State University, Director of Athletics Rob Bernardi announced Friday.
Pending the approval of the University of Louisiana Systems board, Rebowe, a 51-year old Norco native, will become the 10th head coach in the program’s history.
Rebowe not only brings a wealth of experience coaching at the collegiate level but has strong ties to the state of Louisiana, having coached within the borders his entire career.
“Coach Rebowe brings extensive recruiting and coaching expertise and tons of enthusiasm to the Nicholls football program,” Bruce Murphy, Nicholls president, said in a news release. “During a community huddle held last month, Colonel fans expressed to me the importance of hiring a coach who would be active in the community, aggressively recruit local and regional student athletes and build a competitive program on a tight budget. With those qualities in mind, Coach Rebowe rose to the top of a highly qualified applicant pool. I’m excited to welcome Tim back to Nicholls, and I’m confident that he will bring a competitive spirit to the football program while spreading Colonel pride throughout the Bayou Region.”
Rebowe has helped lead the Ragin’ Cajun program to three consecutive bowl victories and a conference championship under head coach Mark Hudspeth.
During his tenure at ULL, Rebowe has served as the safeties coach (2004-07, 2011-14) and linebackers coach (2008-10).
“Both on and off the field, Tim has played a huge part in the success that we have had with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, winning three consecutive bowl games, a Sun Belt Conference championship and having the highest team GPA in the Sun Belt Conference,” Hudspeth said in the news release.
Last season under Rebowe’s tutelage, the Cajuns tied for the Sun Belt lead with 14 interceptions. In 2011, his safeties combined for five interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.
Rebowe’s group had a stellar year in his first season as defensive backs coach in 2004 as the defense ranked 11th in the nation in passing yards allowed. Both of his starting safeties that year, C.C. Brown and Antwain Spann, moved on to the NFL.
The following season, the pass defense finished 23rd in the nation in yards allowed.
As a linebackers coach, Rebowe guided the team’s leading tackler in all three seasons and also had two players earn All-Sun Belt recognition.
“I think they hired the right man for the job,” Hudspeth said in the release. “Tim is going to bring to Nicholls State University a wealth of excitement, a winning attitude and great experience of recruiting in the state of Louisiana. I have no doubt that they will be successful and will be one of the top teams in the Southland Conference.”
In 1995, Rebowe took his first collegiate job, joining Darren Barbier’s staff at Nicholls. From 1995-99, he served as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator before coaching the receivers in 2000.
Rebowe was part of the biggest turnaround in Football Championship Subdivision history as the Colonels went 0-11 in ‘95 before earning a playoff spot the next season with an 8-4 mark.
Rebowe began his coaching career in 1988 at his alma mater, Destrehan High School. While at Destrehan, Rebowe coached future NFL Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
Following his stint with Nicholls, Rebowe coached the cornerbacks at ULM from 2001-03.
Rebowe earned his bachelor of science in physical education from LSU in 1987. He is married to the former Kim Robichaux and they have a daughter, Samantha, and a son, Tyler, who is an infielder on the Colonel baseball team.