Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
- Email:
- tim.billings@usm.edu
- Phone:
- 266-5393
Tim Billings was named the interim head coach of the Southern Miss program on Oct. 27, 2020, after Scotty Walden was named head coach at Austin Peay.
Billings returned for his fifth season as part of the Golden Eagle football staff, while also beginning his fifth decade of coaching that has seen him excel on both the high school and collegiate level.
His last stop before heading to Hattiesburg was as athletic director/football coach at North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas, from April 2014-2016.
Since his arrival for the Golden Eagles, he has been apart of three squads that have ranked Top 25 nationally in total defense, including its highest ranking since 2000 with a No. 3 showing (278.4) in his first season as defensive coordinator.
Billings was promoted to defensive coordinator following the 2017 season when the team finished No. 20 in total defense (331.9) and will also oversee the safeties.
During his time at Southern Miss, Billings has enjoyed a pair of All-Conference USA performers in Racheem Boothe, who was an All-Freshman selection in 2017 at linebacker and first-team pick Ky’el Hemby, who tied for the league lead in interceptions last season.
As outside linebackers coach in 2016, the Golden Eagles’ defense limited opponents to under 300 yards of total offense five times. The defense held its opposition to 11 yards or fewer on the ground twice during the year.
This season sees Billings switch to the offensive side of the ball as he will oversee the tight ends position. It will be the time Billings has coached offense at the level since handling the wide receivers at Wake Forest from 2006-2007 and the first time mentoring tight ends since he was at Missouri from 1987-98.
Prior to North Lamar, he spent 34 years in the college ranks as a head coach, coordinator and position coach on both sides of the ball.
Billings joined the University of Memphis defensive staff in 2012. In his first season at Memphis, Billings coached the defensive line. In 2012, Memphis led the league in total defense in conference games, and in 2013, Memphis was ranked in the top 20 nationally rush defense.
Prior to Memphis, Billings oversaw the Wake Forest wide receivers during the 2006-2007 seasons, then supervised the secondary in 2008-09. He worked with defensive ends in 2010 and coached outside linebackers while co-defensive coordinator in 2011.
Billings was head coach at Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo., for six years (2000-05). In 2002, he was named Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 3 Coach of the Year.
Before taking over at Southeast Missouri, Billings spent 10 years (1990-99) as an assistant coach at Marshall. During his tenure, Marshall was the winningest program in college football, compiling a 114-25 record. Billings served as the Thundering Herd’s defensive coordinator during his final season in 1999. That year, Marshall completed a perfect 13-0 campaign and was ranked No. 10 in the final national polls. The Herd won Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles in each of Billings’ final three seasons at Marshall.
Prior to taking the defensive coordinator role, Billings worked primarily with the Thundering Herd special teams.
Billings began his collegiate coaching career as a Missouri graduate assistant under Warren Powers in 1983-84. The 1984 Tigers played in the Holiday Bowl.
He moved on to Oklahoma as a graduate assistant coach under Barry Switzer for the 1985-86 seasons. The Sooners played in the 1985 and 1986 Orange Bowls, winning the 1985 national championship. Billings returned to Missouri for the 1987-89 seasons.
A native of Honey Grove, Texas, Billings began his coaching career as a secondary coach in 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 1982-83.
A 1980 Southeastern Oklahoma State University graduate with a degree in physical education, Billings was an all-conference defensive back for the Savage Storm. Billings also played basketball for one season at Grayson County Junior College in Sherman, Texas. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Taylor Kay and Trenton Wade.
