USF offensive coordinator Tim Beck brings extensive experience to the job

USF offensive coordinator Tim Beck has, as they say, been around the block.

Several times, actually.

He served a combined 12 years as the offensive coordinator at Power 4 programs NC State, Texas, Ohio State, and Nebraska. He was the wide receivers coach at Kansas for three seasons. and also was promoted there to passing game coordinator, He had a stop at Missouri State and was at Ilinois State as outside linebackers and punters coach and spent two seasons on Bill Snyder’s Kansas State staff as a graduate assistant.

He also played a year of football at UCF and graduated from there, but we'll forgive him for that.

Beck finally got his shot as a head coach with three seasons at Coastal Carolina. It ended when the school let him go last December after a 6-6 season.

That coincided as new USF coach Brian Hartline was putting together his staff. When Hartline saw Beck was available, he didn't hesitate. They had worked together at Ohio State and Hartline liked what he saw -- and vice versa.

"Tim has coordinated outstanding offenses at multiple high-level programs and is an exceptional recruiter and leader of young men," Hartline said. "I have known Tim for many years and his experience as a coordinator, play caller, and head coach will be a tremendous asset as we build a championship program at South Florida."

Green, Gold and Bold got its first look at Beck on Thursday as he came in for a media session following the Bulls' fourth spring practice. He came across as likeable, comfortable in his own skin, and focused on what needs to be done to put together what is nearly a completely new offense. Multiple key offensive players, including quarterback Byrum Brown and key receivers, joined Alex Golesh at Auburn.

While obviously the makeover is in the infant stages, there's a good vibe around this program.

"I really, really am impressed by us offensively, but really our (whole) team," he said. "You see it on defense and special teams, but I'm really impressed offensively with our ability to learn the things that we've been able to teach them. When we make mistakes, our ability to correct those mistakes and move on. 
And where they're not repeat defenders, has been pretty impressive."

Four quarterbacks -- Michael Van Buren, Luke Kromenhouk, Jayden Bradford, and KJ Cooper -- are competing for the starting job. The winner won't be decided until summer camp, but Beck said he likes what he sees.

"I think Mike, Luke, J, and KJ, are very intelligent guys, and they've been able to pick things up. You wouldn't think that because everyone's coming from a different system. It's like having a bunch of foreigners. Everybody's speaking a different language; I'm speaking completely different from them for them, and they have to understand what I'm talking about. But they do.," Beck said.

"Kudos to them. 
Sometimes my wife doesn't understand me. But they've been able to transition from their vernacular to ours. So it does help, but it's still different."

Beck has harped on a message to the quarterbacks from the start -- being in charge on the field means being responsible for everything that happens.

"I've been this way as a quarterback coach for 15, 18 years, whatever, it's been, I'm very demanding. I blame them for everything all the time, and they have to understand that," Beck said. "It doesn't matter.

"Like, if a left tackle jumps off sides, it's quarterback's fault. 
They've learned that and embraced that,"

Part of the growing process is allowing a quarterback to make a mistake in practice rather than cautioning them beforehand about what to do.

"You know, they're gonna make mistakes. I let them make the mistakes, right? 
I'm not one of those guys when we're at practice, it's like, Hey, don't forget, now, versus blitz over the back, because he plays blitz, and I can see it on the script. I let them make the mistakes. 
We have to have such communication between us. He has to be able to tell me what he sees. 
He has to understand why I'm calling that play, what I'm trying to get to," Beck said.

"If they can't grasp that, they're gonna struggle. There are non-negotiables for us, right? Effort is non-negotiable. 
Ball security, non-negotiable. If they're going to turn the ball over, they need to transfer because they're not going to be able to play. They've got to lead our football team. 
They got make good decisions."