Tim Brewster enters his second season directing the tight ends at Florida, coming to Gainesville after one year overseeing the tight ends at North Carolina.
In his first season at Florida, Brewster made an immediate impact, coaching Kyle Pitts to a record-breaking season, culminating in the school’s second-ever Mackey Award recipient. Overall the tight end position caught 64 passes for 1,075 yards and accounted for 17 touchdowns.
Pitts became the first unanimous first-team All-American since Vernon Hargreaves III in 2015. His dominant performance last season also landed him a spot as a Biletnikoff Award finalist, which is presented annually to college football’s best pass catcher.
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Pitts was the first tight end ever to be named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the first Gator to be named a finalist since Jabar Gaffney in 2001 and the fifth Gator overall to be named a finalist.
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The Philadelphia native quickly became the best tight end and one of the top pass catchers in the country in 2020 with 43 receptions, 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pitts’ 12 receiving touchdowns in 2020 were the second-highest total by a tight end in Southeastern Conference history and his 770 yards this past year ties for second on Florida’s single-season record list for receiving yards by a tight end.
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Brewster has spent over 30 years in coaching, most recently as the assistant head coach/tight ends coach at North Carolina. He was a collegiate head coach for four seasons, an NFL assistant coach for five seasons and an assistant coach at six different "Power 5" schools, including with Coach Mullen at Mississippi State.
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An accomplished recruiter, Brewster helped UNC boast the 19th best recruiting class in the country in 2020, according to 247sports’ rankings. Prior to his short stint with the Tar Heels, he helped build the Seminoles' top-ranked 2016 recruiting class, which featured 18 four- or five-star rated players as well as 13 Under Armour All-Americans and four U.S. Army All-Americans. He helped the Seminoles' recruiting classes rank in the top 10 of ESPN's team rankings all five years he was on the FSU staff, including in the top five four times. Brewster was named the ACC's Top Recruiter by ESPN, made 247Sports' Top 10 Recruiters list and was among Rivals' Top 25 Recruiters.
During his career, Brewster has produced 12 NFL tight ends. Prior to Pitts being selected as the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history at No. 4 to the Atlanta Falcons, he saw five tight ends sign NFL contracts during his first stint at UNC, including Alge Crumpler and Freddie Jones, and two each at Texas, Florida St. and Texas A&M. He also discovered and developed one of the league’s all-time greats in Antonio Gates, who played basketball at Kent St. prior to transitioning to a career in football, while Brewster was the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers. Brewster served as the tight ends coach for the Denver Broncos from 2005-06 after coaching that same position at North Carolina from 1989-97 and Texas from 1998-2001.
Florida (2020)
In his first season at Florida, Brewster made an immediate impact, coaching Kyle Pitts to a record-breaking season, culminating in the school’s second-ever Mackey Award recipient. Overall the tight end position caught 64 passes for 1,075 yards and accounted for 17 touchdowns.
Pitts became the first unanimous first-team All-American since Vernon Hargreaves III in 2015. His dominant performance last season also landed him a spot as a Biletnikoff Award finalist, which is presented annually to college football’s best pass catcher.
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Pitts was the first tight end ever to be named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the first Gator to be named a finalist since Jabar Gaffney in 2001 and the fifth Gator overall to be named a finalist.
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The Philadelphia native quickly became the best tight end and one of the top pass catchers in the country in 2020 with 43 receptions, 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pitts’ 12 receiving touchdowns in 2020 were the second-highest total by a tight end in Southeastern Conference history and his 770 yards this past year ties for second on Florida’s single-season record list for receiving yards by a tight end.
North Carolina (2019)
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In his first season back at Carolina, Brewster’s tight ends helped an offense that finished 12th nationally in total offense at 474 yards per game, including 285.8 yards passing per game, which ranked 25th nationally. They also helped the offensive line as the Tar Heels ranked 38th nationally in rushing offense at 188.2 yards per game.
Texas A&M (2018)
During his lone season in College Station, Brewster had his usual effect on the tight ends. Standout Jace Sternberger garnered consensus All-America honors after leading the Aggies in receptions (48), receiving yards (832) and receiving TDs (10). Sternberger was also a first-team All-SEC selection and a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, before being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The tight end group also blocked for an offense that ranked 21st nationally in rushing offense at 219 yards per game, including a 1,700-yard rusher.
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Florida State (2013-17)
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Florida State made the tight end an integral part of their offense during Brewster's time in Tallahassee. Nick O'Leary was a two-time finalist for the John Mackey Award, winning the trophy in 2014, while earning consensus All-America honors before being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Overall, O'Leary left Florida State as the school leader in every category among Seminole tight ends, including receptions (114), yards (1,591) and touchdowns (18).
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Brewster joined the Florida State coaching staff in February of 2013 following a stint in 2012 as the wide receivers coach at Mississippi St., where he helped the Bulldogs break several records.
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Mississippi State (2012)
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In his one season with Mullen at Mississippi State, Brewster worked with the wide receivers, including school record holder Chad Bumphis. The Bulldogs sported three wideouts with over 450 yards receiving, led by the 922 by Bumphis, which ranks sixth in the MSU single-season annals. Bumphis set a school record with 12 touchdowns under the guidance of Brewster en route to earning All-SEC second-team accolades.
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Minnesota (2007-10)
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Brewster was the head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2007-2010 before spending the 2011 season as a college football analyst for Fox Sports. He led the Golden Gophers to the Insight Bowl in both 2008 and 2009.
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NFL (2002-07)
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Prior to Minnesota, Brewster spent five seasons in the NFL. He concluded his second season as tight ends coach for the Denver Broncos in 2006. Brewster instructed the San Diego Chargers tight ends from 2002-04 and held additional responsibilities as the team's assistant head coach for the 2004 season.
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During his tenure with the Chargers, Brewster oversaw the rapid development of Gates, who in 2004 earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press and a Pro Bowl selection after playing only his second year of football since high school. Gates set an NFL single-season touchdown record (13) for tight ends in 2004, while ranking third in receiving yards (964) and fourth in receptions (81) among NFL tight ends.
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Before working for San Diego, Brewster enjoyed success coaching tight ends at Texas and North Carolina. He worked on Mack Brown's staffs at both schools and developed six tight ends who signed NFL contracts.
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Texas (1998-2001)
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In four years at Texas, Brewster tutored two tight ends who earned All-Big 12 Conference honors, including 1998 first-team selection Derek Lewis, and coached two players who signed NFL contracts in Lewis and Bo Scaife, who was drafted in the sixth round by Tennessee in 2005. Brewster's tight ends at Texas blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his four seasons at the school, highlighted by Ricky Williams' 2,124-yard season in 1998.
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North Carolina (1989-97)
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In nine years at North Carolina, Brewster mentored four All-ACC selections at tight end and helped the school advance to six consecutive bowl games from 1992-97. As recruiting coordinator, his efforts secured the talent that helped the 1997 team go 11-1 and finish fourth in the nation.
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Brewster guided Crumpler to a second-team All-ACC distinction and honorable mention All-America accolades from Football News as a sophomore in 1997. He also mentored Jones to a first-team All-ACC selection in 1995 and again in 1996, when Jones set a North Carolina single-season record for receptions by a tight end (32) to garner third-team All-America honors from Football News.
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His tight ends at North Carolina were critical to the team's rushing success as their blocking helped clear the way for five different 1,000-yard seasons, including Natrone Means' back-to-back 1,000-yard years in 1991 and ‘92. Greg DeLong, a first-team All-ACC tight end in 1994, twice earned ACC Lineman of the Week honors for his blocking in 1996 under Brewster's tutelage.
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Brewster spent 1987-88 as head coach at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Ind., directing a wide-open offense while his squad's won 15 of 23 games during that period. He developed Indiana's passing leader in both of his seasons as head coach.
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Brewster began his coaching career in 1986 at Purdue, where he coached tight ends and offensive tackles as a graduate assistant.
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A former two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection at the University of Illinois, Brewster led the nation's tight ends in receiving in 1983 and captained Illinois to the 1984 Rose Bowl against UCLA. Brewster, who graduated from Illinois with a bachelor's degree in political science, participated in training camps of the New York Giants (1984) and Philadelphia Eagles (1985).
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Brewster was born Oct. 13, 1960, in Phillipsburg, N.J. He and his wife, Cathleen, have three sons, Eric, Clint and Nolan.
The Brewster File
Personal
Birthdate:Â Oct. 13, 1960
Hometown:Â Phillipsburg, N.J.
Wife:Â Cathleen
Children:Â sons, Eric, Clint and NolanÂ
Education
College: Illinois ‘84
Brewster Coaching History
| Years |
School |
Title |
| 2020-Present |
Florida |
Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends |
| 2019 |
North Carolina |
Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends |
| 2018 |
Texas A&M |
Tight Ends |
| 2013-17 |
Florida State |
Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2012-13 |
Mississippi State |
Wide Receivers |
| 2007-10 |
Minnesota |
Head Coach |
| 2005-07 |
Denver Broncos |
Tight Ends |
| 2002-05 |
San Diego Chargers |
Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends |
| 1998-2001 |
Texas |
Tight Ends/Special Teams |
| 1989-97 |
North Carolina |
Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 1987-88 |
Lafayette (Ind) Central Catholic HS |
Head Coach |
| 1986 |
Purdue |
Graduate Assistant |
Postseason Experience As a Coach
| Years |
School |
Bowl |
| 2020 |
Florida |
Cotton Bowl |
| 2020 |
Florida |
SEC Championship Game |
| 2019 |
North Carolina |
Military Bowl |
| 2018 |
Texas A&M |
Gator Bowl |
| 2016 |
Florida State |
Orange Bowl |
| 2015 |
Florida State |
Peach Bowl |
| 2014 |
Florida State |
Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal) |
| 2013 |
Florida State |
BCS National Championship Game |
| 2012 |
Mississippi State |
Gator Bowl |
| 2009 |
Minnesota |
Insight Bowl |
| 2008 |
Minnesota |
Insight Bowl |
| 2002 |
Texas |
Holiday Bowl |
| 2001 |
Texas |
Holiday Bowl |
| 2000 |
Texas |
Cotton Bowl |
| 1999 |
Texas |
Cotton Bowl |
| 1998 |
North Carolina |
Gator Bowl |
| 1997 |
North Carolina |
Gator Bowl |
| 1996 |
North Carolina |
Carquest Bowl |
| 1995 |
North Carolina |
Sun Bowl |
| 1994 |
North Carolina |
Gator Bowl |
| 1993 |
North Carolina |
Peach Bowl |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
TE Kyle Pitts (1st) – Florida '21 – Atlanta Falcons
TE Jace Sternberger (3rd) – Texas A&M ‘19 – Green Bay Packers
TE Ryan Izzo (7th) – Florida St. '18 – New England Patriots
TE Nick O'Leary (6th) – Florida St. '15 – Buffalo Bills
DT Ra'Shede Hageman (2nd) – Minnesota '14 – Atlanta Falcons
DB Brock Vereen (4th) – Minnesota '14 – Chicago Bears
WR Eric Decker (3rd) – Minnesota '10 – Denver Broncos
LB Nate Triplett (5th) – Minnesota '10 – Minnesota Vikings
S Dominique Barber (6th) – Minnesota '10 – Houston Texans
TE Bo Scaife (6th) – Texas '05 – Tennesee Titans
TE Alge Crumpler (2nd) – North Carolina '01 – Atlanta Falcons
TE Freddie Jones (2nd) – North Carolina '97 – San Diego Chargers
TE Deems May (7th) – North Carolina '92 – San Diego Chargers
Postseason Experience As a Player
| Years |
School |
Bowl |
| 1984 |
Illinois |
Rose Bowl |
| 1982 |
Illinois |
Liberty Bowl |
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