Tim Kish, an assistant coach since 2004, was named interim head coach of the Arizona Wildcat football team on October 10, 2011. Previously, he served as defensive coordinator since December 2010 and was co-defensive coordinator during the 2010 season. He also served as UA's assistant head coach.

He's one of the nation's most-veteran defensive coaches and has established himself as one of the nation's top recruiters. Kish has three decades of coaching experience in the Big Ten, the Ohio prep ranks, at two Mid-American Conference schools and at a major I-A independent. He came to UA after serving seven seasons as defensive coordinator at two Big Ten schools.

His work in his eight years on the staff has helped Arizona's defense improve dramatically in overall effectiveness and put the program into position to win championships. His ascension to a coordinator's position and eventual interim head coach reflects that.

Kish was named a top 25 national recruiter for Arizona in each of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons and was the primary recruiting coach for seven Arizona signees in the class of 2010. With 19 years of experience coaching in the Big Ten and Pac-12, he has served as a coordinator in both powerhouse conferences.

He developed three new starters in 2010 into a solid unit, with junior college transfer Paul Vassallo earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors in his first go-round. Vassallo became the first Cat since Lance Briggs to post more than 100 tackles. Kish also coordinated a defense that finished fourth in rushing, passing and pass efficiency defense in a league full of 400+ offenses.

Kish mentored Xavier Kelley into a second-team All-Pac-10 pick in 2009, plus Vuna Tuihalamaka into an honorable mention selection off the league's No. 2 total defense unit. They were second and fourth on the club in tackles with a combined 150 hits and 11 for losses. Under his guidance, Ronnie Palmer was a four-year, 41-game starter and 2008 honorable mention All-Pac-10 pick his senior year.

In the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl, Arizona linebackers showcased the downhill style Kish has developed with a combined 30 tackles from three positions. UA's starting linebackers recorded 20+ tackles in 12 games in 2007-08.

Spencer Larsen was a first-team All-Pac-10 honoree in 2007, when he led the league with 131 tackles and 10.9 per game. Kish developed Larsen into a 2008 NFL Draft pick by the Denver Broncos. Larsen earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2006.

Despite missing 14 games in 2005, UA's linebacking trio of Larsen, Palmer and sophomore Dane Krogstad combined for 127 tackles. Each had break-out games of 14+ tackles. Palmer earned honorable mention freshman All-America honors in his abbreviated 2005 debut season.

Prior to his arrival in Tucson, the 2002 Indiana defensive unit finished fourth in the Big Ten and 33rd nationally in pass defense. Kish helped Northwestern win two Big Ten Conference titles and earn consecutive appearances in the Rose and Citrus Bowls.

Kish was part of an Illinois staff that took a 0-11 team in 1997 and improved the squad's mark to 8-4 by 1999. His Illini unit that year recovered 13 fumbles, had 30 sacks and intercepted 14 passes, plus knocked off No. 9 Michigan in Ann Arbor and posted another big road victory at No. 22 Ohio State. The Illini beat Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 24.

During his time at Army, he helped the Cadets make three bowl appearances, including a 31-29 victory over Illinois in the 1985 Peach Bowl. That season Army posted a 9-3 record and held eight of 12 opponents to 17 points or less. Kish also guided an Army defense that held the opposition to 17 points or less 42 times during his tenure at West Point.

A graduate of Westerville (Ohio) High School, Otterbein College (1976) and Bowling Green State (1978), he was a four-year letterman as a defensive back at Otterbein and played basketball collegiately. Kish and his wife, Angela, have two daughters, Megan and Emily, and a son, Michael.

Kish's Coaching History

1976 Assistant coach Mariemont H.S., Cincinnati

1977 Assistant coach Mariemont High School

1978 Graduate assistant Bowling Green State

1979-81 Assistant secondary coach Purdue

1982 Quarterbacks coach Ball State

1983 Defensive line coach Ball State

1984-91 Defensive ends/OLBs coach Army

1992-96 Defensive ends/LBs coach Northwestern

1997-00 Defensive coordinator/LBs Illinois

2001 Defensive coordinator/LBs Ohio

2002-03 Defensive coordinator/LBs Indiana

2004 Linebackers coach Arizona

2005 Linebackers coach Arizona

2006 Linebackers coach Arizona

2007 Linebackers coach, Asst. HC Arizona

2008 Linebackers coach, Asst. HC Arizona

2009 Linebackers coach, Asst. HC Arizona

2010 Co-Defensive Coordinator/LB Arizona

2011 Defensive Coordinator/LB Arizona

Kish in Bowl Games

1979 Bluebonnet Bowl Purdue assistant

1980 Liberty Bowl Purdue assistant

1984 Cherry Bowl Army assistant

1985 Peach Bowl Army assistant

1988 Sun Bowl Army assistant

1996 Citrus Bowl Northwestern assistant

1995 Rose Bowl Northwestern assistant

1999 Micronpc.com Bowl Illinois coordinator

2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl Arizona assistant

2009 Holiday Bowl Arizona co-coordinator

2010 Alamo Bowl Arizona coordinator

The Kish File

Birthdate: July 1, 1954, Westerville, Ohio

High School: Westerville, Ohio, High School, 1972

College: Otterbein College, 1976; Bowling Green State, 1978

Playing Experience: Otterbein College, defensive back, 1973-76

Recruiting Areas: Phoenix, Inland Empire, Chicago

Family: Wife, Angela; daughters Megan and Emily; son Michael