By: Heath A. Smith, Tallahassee Democrat Staff Writer
Former Bethel College defensive coordinator Willie Tillman has accepted a position as Florida A&M's defensive backs coach.
Bethel College head football coach Dino Kaklis confirmed Thursday that Tillman is joining the Rattlers.
According to Bethel College assistant coach Anthony Coeary, who is Tillman's best friend, Tillman began working at FAMU Wednesday.
FAMU football coach Rubin Carter said Thursday that he could not comment on the matter. Carter expects an announcement to be made within days.
"It's obviously a big step for him," Kaklis said. "He's a tremendous worker. I talked to him last week and he's excited. He was trying to find a place to live and was looking at purchasing a condo."
Bethel College is an NAIA program in McKenzie, Tenn. Kaklis said Tillman was the first person he hired to work with him after taking the head football job at Bethel in 2003.
Kaklis and Tillman were teammates at Purdue from 1994-1995. Tillman played wide receiver for the Boilermakers from 1994-1998.
Tillman is from Satellite Beach, where he earned a McDonald's All-America nomination in basketball as a senior at Satellite High School.
"We're very happy for him," Coeary said. "I'm happy to see him move on to the next level."
Tillman replaces Richard Shelton, who was fired after one season as the Rattlers' defensive backs coach. Tillman inherits a Rattler secondary that ranked second in the MEAC last season in pass defense, giving up 141.4 yards a game.
Returning from last year's unit are 2007 preseason All-MEAC second-team selections Jason Beach (safety) and Michael Creary (cornerback). Kaklis said Tillman's coaching style will fit in well at FAMU.
"He's got an old-school type of coaching mentality, but he knows how to translate it into a new-school style that relates to the players," Kaklis said. "He will have a great rapport with his players."
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