Tim Driscoll, a 26-year college coaching veteran who served as the head coach at upstart Finlandia prior to his current stint, begins his second season as UNC Pembroke’s defensive coordinator in 2019-20. His coaching career also includes stops at four other NCAA Division II institutions as well.
A stickler on the defensive side of the ball, Driscoll has logged 14 seasons as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level, including 10 years (2004-13) as the top defensive coach at Michigan Tech. While also serving as assistant head coach in Houghton, Mich., Driscoll crafted one of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (GLIAC) most feared defensive units. A regular among the nation’s top defensive teams as well, the Huskies ranked first or second in total defense among the GLIAC’s 15 squads in three of his last four seasons at MTU, while also leading the league in scoring defense on two occasions as well.
Michigan Tech compiled a 64-35 (.646) clip with Driscoll at the reins of its defensive unit, and made one appearance (2004) in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Along the way, Driscoll helped the Huskies stake claim to a conference title (2004), as well as the league’s North Division crown in 2012. MTU also boasted a pair of league defensive lineman of the year and two GLIAC defensive back of the year during that time as well.
Driscoll made his debut in the coaching world on the coaching staff at North Dakota State from 1990 to 1996, first as a student assistant for the Bison and head coach Rocky Hager, and then as a graduate assistant coach with the strong safeties and outside linebackers. The success of NDSU during that span is well-documented as the Bison collected a trio of North Central Conference titles, while making four appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The enthusiastic mentor served as defensive coordinator for Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah, in 1997 and 1998, and helped the Bees secure a pair of trips to the state playoffs, but returned to the collegiate level in 1999 as an assistant coach and helped North Dakota State College of Science (NJCAA) to a perfect 10-0 record, a Pepsi Cola Bowl championship and a runner-up finish in the national rankings. He would then serve as defensive coordinator at Fort Lewis, Northern Michigan, Jamestown College and Minnesota-Crookston over the next four seasons.
Driscoll earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Dakota State in 1995, and earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from NDSU in 1997. He and his wife, Vicky, are the parents of three daughters – Sierrah, Sloane and Reese.
| THE DRISCOLL FILE |
| Coaching Experience |
| 1995-96 |
North Dakota State, Assistant Coach (Safeties/Linebackers) |
| 1997-98 |
Box Elder (Utah) High School, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs) |
| 1999 |
North Dakota State College of Science, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs) |
| 2000 |
Fort Lewis, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2001 |
Northern Michigan, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2002 |
Jamestown College, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2003 |
Minnesota-Crookston, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2004-13 |
Michigan Tech, Assistant Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2014-17 |
Finlandia, Head Coach |
| 2018-Present |
UNC Pembroke, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) |
|
| Playing Experience |
| Led Saint Mary's (N.D.) High School to 1988 state championship. Inducted into Saint Mary's High School Athletic Hall of Fame. |
|
| Education |
| Bachelor’s degree in physical education (North Dakota State, 1995); Master’s degree in secondary education (North Dakota State, 1997) |
