Rose Revered For His Impact Over Six-Decade Coaching Career

What does a football coach have to do in order to make as much of an impact at the end of his sixth decade as in his first season?
 
Tim Rose has the answer.
 
Ashland University's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach was celebrated at halftime of the Sept. 16 game against Hillsdale at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field for 60 years of coaching football – starting at Cincinnati Elder High School in 1963, and continuing in his 15^th year leading the Eagle defense.
 
Rose's AU defenses have been among some of the best in the country. Here are the top-10 NCAA Division II rankings in scoring and total defense by Eagle defenses from 2012-22:

• 2012 – fifth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg.), ninth in total defense (292.0 ypg.).
• 2016 – fourth in scoring defense (15.1 ppg.).
• 2018 – eighth in scoring defense (16.1 ppg.), fourth in total defense (239.4 ypg.).
• 2022 – ninth in scoring defense (14.7 ppg.), ninth in total defense (259.7 ypg.).

So far in 2023, Rose's charges are tied for seventh in Division II in sacks with 18. Since starting at Ashland in 2009, his defenses have earned 10 shutouts – a feat harder to achieve in the modern game of college football – and have been an integral part of four D-II playoff appearances.
 
How do you sum up a six-decade career? By asking those who have been affected by its impact…
 
TIM ROSE, THE G.O.A.T.
JERIS PENDLETON, FORMER ASHLAND AND NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – "Coach Rose is the true definition of legendary! He exemplifies passion, dedication and commitment. As a player coming into Ashland, I didn't know what to expect, but he laid the vision out clearly for anyone who wanted to play defense for him. You're going to give 100 percent every practice, meeting and game. He demanded respect, passion and effort, which is the way he coached. He knows how to relate to his players. He studies his players like he studies the game of football. He truly cares about your future beyond football. He understands life and shares his wisdom with each player on an individual basis. He wants the absolute best for his players."
 
SENIOR DEFENSIVE END CHRIS JULIAN – "He has dedicated all of his time to his team, demonstrated his desire to succeed, and demonstrated his affection for his players. No one is more ideal for the position of defensive coordinator than coach Rose. He excels in his field, and is the best in the nation at what he does."
 
GETTING RIGHT TO THE POINT
PENDLETON – "He's not a beat-around-the-bush type of coach. He is as straightforward and authentic as they come. Coach Rose challenged me to be the best person/player I could possibly be – not just on the field, but in life. He saw potential in his players, so he pushed us to our absolute limits. I was fortunate enough to continue my career of playing football at the highest level, and his coaching style prepared me for that opportunity. I remember my first week of rookie mini-camp in the NFL. It was hot and humid in Jacksonville, Fla., I was questioning my belonging because I was completely exhausted from the heat and intense training. Then one day during camp I looked up during the middle of a drill and saw coach Rose standing there watching me going through defensive line drills and it gave me a boost of energy. At the end of practice, I went over to him for feedback and asked him what he thought about my performance that day (thinking to myself I felt and looked out of place), and he gave me the uplift I needed at that moment. He said, 'You look like you belong,' like he knew what I was thinking. That's one of many stories I could share. He is a fatherly figure/mentor in my eyes, and I'm so grateful to have played for him."
 
DEEB ALAWAN, SENIOR DEFENSIVE END – "Coach Rose has had a significant impact on the way I play the game of football, because he will reach inside of you and make you into the best football player you are capable of being. Coach Rose always says it how it is, and he will never sugarcoat anything. This is very impactful in the way he coaches, because he will make it clear when you do a great job, but he will also let you know when you left a play out on the field. The enthusiasm and spirit that he brings to every player he coaches encourages them to give their very best on each and every play. He makes it known when you are an athletically-talented player on the football field, but he always makes it known that it is the 'spirit' that you play with that will set you apart from the rest."
 
TEACHING DEFENSE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK
MICHAEL AYERS, FORMER EAGLE ALL-AMERICAN LINEBACKER AND CURRENT NFL FREE AGENT – "He's helped me learn all three levels of defense from the secondary all the way to the D-line. He's helped me learn how to play fast and smart throughout an entire game, and he helped me appreciate all the details in preparation in order to play the game at a high level."
 
NOT ABOUT XS AND OS, BUT JIMMYS AND JOES
ASHLAND HEAD COACH DOUG GEISER – "Tim has been a tremendous role model for me during the time we've worked together. He's the most energetic guy on staff and is the epitome of a 'professional coach.' The way he prepares, the way he researches his craft is inspiring. He never 'mails it in.' He never takes things for granted or rests on his laurels. He works just as hard now as the first day we started working together. Tim is also one of the best that I've been around in terms of utilizing his personnel. He has an innate ability to meld his package to the strengths of his players. Seeing his example has helped us to apply this same philosophy on offense and special teams. Finally, Tim does a great job of building relationships with his players. He embodies the philosophy that it's not about the 'X's and the O's, but it's about the Jimmys and the Joes.' He challenges me as an everyday example that this program is, and always will be, about our players."
 
STILL ADJUSTING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
GEISER – "Tim researches the game more than anyone I've ever been around. He never assumes that he knows it all...even though he might. He is constantly in search of a better way to 'build the proverbial mousetrap.' In the offseason, he is constantly studying tape, visiting with other coaches to pick their brains, and evaluating our tape. He is on an eternal quest to find the 'perfect defense.'"
 
PENDLETON – "Coach Rose is a very, very smart man. He has a great deal of experience and knowledge of the game. He's not a coach that's stuck in old ways of thinking. Years ago, the game was smash-mouth run the ball down your throat football, and now, the game has evolved to more of an RPO style air arsenal attack. Either way, he is a professor of this game and knows how adapt to any style of offensive being played. You can tell he's always studying the game, implementing new concepts and strategies based on what opponents have shown on film in previous weeks. As a player, you never had to worry about the game planning or preparation of your opponent because he made sure you were prepared for any situation. Playing on his defense, he held you accountable and did not accept excuses, just results. He will give his defense/players the best opportunity to dominate and make plays. This is why he's experienced so much success throughout his coaching career."
 
JACKSON MYERS, SENIOR LINEBACKER – "Obviously, coach Rose was around when teams just ran the ball for 90 percent of the game, but he has evolved with the game because of how intelligent he is. Coach Rose is one of the most intelligent people I've ever been around. Another reason why he has evolved to the game over the years is because he outworks everyone, and I mean everyone. His preparation is an inspiration to me and others on the team."
 
AYERS – "He studies many different defenses, and then molds it to fit that year's skill set. He sees what works and what doesn't, and is not afraid to try something new. Even as a teacher, the way he tries every tactic to help players learn and grow has evolved every year."
 
DEVIN PRUDE, JUNIOR CORNERBACK – "He is a football genius. He studies the game so much that it doesn't matter what he sees in today's game that is different, he will have a solution for everything."
 
DONZALE ASHLEY, FORMER EAGLE DEFENSIVE BACK AND CURRENT CORNERBACKS COACH/ACADEMIC COORDINATOR – "Coach Rose not only has adapted with the way the game has changed, but also with his players. He always knows how to get his players to buy into his system and play hard."
 
JULIAN – "Because coach Rose seeks out athletes with strong enthusiasm at all 11 spots, his defense will always be successful. You will be successful if you have that from any level of defense. Additionally, he wants you to be focused on the game. He is really interested in watching films and visualizing your rival, which also gives you an advantage. Everyone has potential, but he teaches you that you need more than talent to succeed at this level if you want to be a standout defense."
 
BRINGING FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
ALAWAN – "Coach Rose has been around the game of football for many years, and he even had a chance to be my dad's head coach at Miami University. Ever since I was a kid, I would hear stories from my dad and his old college buddies about this 'coach Rose' and the intensity he brought to the football game. My dad made it clear that there was nothing like one of coach Rose's speeches, and I found out fast that this was true. Even though coach Rose has evolved in the way he coaches the game of football with the new era of offenses, he has always kept the fire and passion he has had from the beginning, and has not wavered from this."
 
ROSE'S IMPACT ON AND OFF THE FIELD
JULIAN – "Coach Rose has influenced my play by placing me in the most advantageous circumstances each week so that I can go out there and perform to the best of my abilities. Each year, he holds his defense to a high standard, and that is excellence. No matter who you are, he cares about all of his players, and that is what you want as a coach. He wants you to give it all you've got on the field, but he also realizes that life is about more than just football, so he also wants you to complete your education and do
great things off the field."
 
MYERS – "Coach Rose has impacted me in many ways as a player and as a person as well. He has taught me that giving everything you have in life is the most important thing. On and off the field, that mentality has been my focus for my time here at AU. I think coach Rose has really made a mark on me as a football player by having more passion about the game than I've ever seen. When I think about coach Rose, I think purely about the love for the game that he has. One of his favorite things to say to us is 'there's nothing like college football," and it's true. I would truly say that I play the way I do not only because of how I was raised, but mostly on how I was coached. Coach Rose has made me the player that I am today without a doubt. I'm forever in his debt."
 
ASHLEY – "Coach Rose has made a huge impact on me not only as a player, but also as a coach. Coming from California was a tough transition, and having someone like coach Rose to hold me accountable was a huge impact. He challenged me mentally and physically not only to become a better football player, but also a better young man. Forever grateful for those times."
 
PRUDE – "Coach Rose has impacted the way I play big time. His coaching style is just so unique, and not only does he coach you to become a great player, but he also teaches you the ways of becoming a better man in life."
 
SO…WOULD HIS PLAYERS REALLY RUN THROUGH A WALL FOR HIM?
PENDLETON – "Coach Rose's energy and passion for the game is unmatched. He will make you feel like you could run through a wall prepared out of stone! You can hear the passion in his voice any time he is speaking. Some of his pregame speeches will give you goose bumps. If you weren't prepared before hearing him talk, you definitely were ready after his speech. I can't recall a day where he did not bring enthusiasm and passion to practice or games. He's always fired up! So as a player, how could you not give your absolute best effort? He inspires you to play with pride, passion, grit and determination! Coach Rose is not only legendary, he is the G.O.A.T! I salute him and aspire to have the same impact on others as he did with me!"
 
ALAWAN – "Yes, I would 100 percent run through a brick wall for coach Rose because of how much trust I have in him as a coach and how inspirational he can be. There is nothing like sitting in one of his speeches and hearing the passion and tone in his voice that gets your blood boiling to a whole new level, and there is no one else I would want leading me out on the field every Saturday night."
 
PRUDE – "Absolutely! From my personal experience here, after not being on the team freshman year, he still believed in me and saw the potential in me and gave me a chance when he did not have to."
 
AYERS – "Of course! It might take a couple brick walls to stop someone from running through them for coach Rose."
 
MYERS – "I would without a doubt, run through a wall for coach Rose. First, the way he has treated me here is absolutely amazing. Has he been tough on me? Absolutely, but he always knew what I could become. Second, the passion that he has for the game is unmatched. When I hear him talk about football, it gives me the chills, as he would say, 'boils your blood.' Lastly, just the man that he is. He always mentions to me what the legendary track and field coach Jud Logan used to say to his players – 'What I had, I gave. What I saved, I lost forever.' Coach Rose gives everything to this game, and is not only one of the best coaches in D-II, he's one of the best in the country at any level. I love coach Rose and would do anything for him. He's become one of the best mentors and inspirations for me and many others!"