Tim Billings begins his sixth season at Southeast Missouri State with renewed optimism after a very good recruiting year.
Injuries and a rugged schedule that included games with two I-A opponents and the number one ranked I-AA team, led to a disappointing campaign in 2004 with an overall record of 3-8, 3-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
"We could just never overcome a slow start and all the injuries," Billings said. "We still managed to win three of our four home games with two of the wins in overtime. Our home fans saw plenty of excitement and the longest game in Southeast history when we needed four overtimes to beat Samford.
"I think we can rebound this season because we have some very talented skill players," he said. "Our offense should be able to score points and if our defense can stop giving up big plays, we can surprise some people."
Billings has an overall record of 23-34 after five seasons.
The 2002 season had been a break through season for Southeast football with a record of 8-4 and a final ranking of 23rd nationally. The winning season brought a number of coaching honors for Billings. He was selected as the OVC Coach of the Year and was the first Southeast football coach to be honored as the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. Billings was a finalist for two national coach of the year awards.
On December 23, 1999, Billings took on the task of rebuilding Southeast Missouri State University football. Shortly after accepting the Southeast job, Billings rejoined the Marshall University football team in Detroit to coach the defense in a 21-3 Motor City Bowl win over one of the nation's top ranked offensive teams, Brigham Young University.
The win completed a 13-0 season for the Marshall Thundering Herd who finished the season ranked 10th nationally in Division I-A.
Billings served on the Marshall coaching staff for 10 years as the Thundering Herd became the winningest program in college football during the 1990's with a record of 114-25.
"In his last season as defensive coordinator at Marshall, Billings coached a defense that ranked second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 10.5 points per game. His defense was 11th nationally against the rush, ranked third in pass efficiency defense and seventh in total defense.
Prior to becoming defensive coordinator, Billings worked primarily with Thundering Herd special teams. His special teams produced 20 touchdowns on kickoff returns, punt returns, blocked punts and passing plays out of put and field goal formations. Herd special teams led the nation in kickoff returns in 1991 and in net punting in 1994 and 1996. Randy Moss, currently an all-star in the NFL, led the nation in kickoff returns in 1996.
Billings began his college coaching career as a Missouri graduate assistant under Warren Powers in 1983 and 1984. The 1984 Tigers played in the Holiday Bowl.
He moved on to Oklahoma as an assistant coach under Barry Switzer for the 1985 and 1986 season. The 1985 Sooner team was ranked number one in the nation and the Sooners played in the Orange Bowl in both 1985 and 1986.
Billings returned to Missouri for the 1987-89 seasons under Woody Widenhoefer.
His 10-year stint at Marshall followed, serving under Jim Donan for six seasons and Bob Pruett for four seasons.
A native of Honey Grove, Texas (one hour northeast of Dallas), Billings began his coaching career as secondary coach at Duncan (Okla.) High School in 1980. He served as head coach at Prairieland High School in Pattonville, Texas in 1981 and was secondary coach at Norman (Okla.) High School in 1982 and 1983.
A graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University where was all-conference defensive back, Billings also played basketball for one season at Grayson County Junior College in Sherman, Texas.
Born on Jan. 4, 1957 in Lawton, Okla., Billings is married to the former Lisa Dost and has two children, Taylor Kay, 15, and Trenton Wade, 11.
THE BILLINGS FILE
Became Southeast Head Coach: December 23, 1999
Coaching Experience
2004: Head Football Coach, Southeast Missouri State (3-8)
2003: Head Football Coach, Southeast Missouri State (5-7)
2002: Head Football Coach, Southeast Missouri State (8-4)
2001: Head Football Coach, Southeast Missouri State (4-7)
2000: Head Football Coach, Southeast Missouri State (3-8)
1999: Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Marshall
1994-1998: Defensive Line, Special Teams, Marshall
1993: Linebackers, Kickers, Special Teams, Marshall
1991-1992: Tight Ends, Special Teams, Marshall
1990-1991: Defensive Line-Marshall
1987-1989: Tight Ends-Missouri
1985-1986: Graduate Assistant-Oklahoma
1983-1984: Graduate Assistant-Missouri
1982-1983: Secondary-Norman (Oklahoma) High School
1981: Head Coach-Prairieland High School (Pattonville, Texas)
1980: Secondary-Duncan (Oklahoma) High School
Playing Experience
Played defensive back at Southeastern Oklahoma State University from 1976-1979 ... played basketball at Grayson County JC, Sherman, Texas, in 1975 ... earned all-conference honors ... Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1978 ... played quarterback and linebacker at Honey Grove High School in Honey Grove, Texas.
