Texas announces hire of Tim Beck as OC

The return of Tim Beck to the Lone Star State is now official, as the Texas Longhorns announced the former Ohio State Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach as Tom Herman’s first offensive coordinator in Austin on Tuesday afternoon.

The news came hours after reports first emerged that Beck would leave Columbus, where the replacement quarterbacks coach was named well before the Longhorns announced the news.

"I'm extremely excited to be coming back to the state of Texas and working with a program that I've always hoped and dreamed I could one day be a part of," Beck said in a statement released by the school. "I know first hand from my high school coaching days here that the passion of the fans, love for football and the way the state embraces it on the high school and college levels are just unbelievable.

There is no place like Texas, and I've always considered The University of Texas as the pinnacle of that, and what a great opportunity to be in this position while working with a great head coach in Tom Herman. He's energetic, smart, innovative, has a great plan, and he's put together an awesome staff. I can't tell you how excited I am to get started."

Texas athletics

Beck comes to Austin after two seasons working under Urban Meyer at Ohio State, during which time the Buckeyes finished 12-1 and then appeared in the College Football Playoffs.

In both seasons, Beck helped run offenses that finished in the top-15 nationally in offensive S&P+. In 2016, Ohio State finished No. 2 nationally in rushing S&P+ despite replacing three starters along the offensive line and three of the top four rushers, including Ezekiel Elliott, who is now the leading rusher in the NFL by a wide margin.

"I'm so excited to have Tim joining our staff and running our offense," Herman said. "He's a guy I've known and respected for a long time. Not only is he a coach that is highly thought of in our business, but he's an unbelievable person who does a tremendous job developing players, building relationships, working with a staff, recruiting — everything you're looking for as a head coach in an assistant. And on top of all of the great success he's had coaching across the country, he also spent several years coaching high school football in our great state. He'll be a tremendous addition to our staff."

Indeed, Beck has a strong history as a recruiter in the state of Texas, landing prospects like five-star Kennedale linebacker Baron Browning and serving as the lead recruiter for five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah, who is widely viewed as a silent Ohio State commit. In addition, Beck also helped Meyer land JK Dobbins, the nation’s No. 2 all-purpose back.

Stints spent as the head coach at Summit in Mansfield and RL Turner in Carrollton helped establish those ties prior to a decade spent recruiting the state.

"I can't say enough about what joining the staff at Texas and representing this state means to me," Beck said. "There are so many unbelievable high school coaches here, and the great thing is having coached high school football here, once you're a part of that circle, you'll always be a part of it. There's a special bond with Texas high school coaches, and I'm thrilled to be back here and humbled by the opportunity to be representing all of them."