UC Davis Athletics

Tim Plough returned to his alma mater to become the 18th head coach in UC Davis football history in December of 2023. And the 2025 season will be his second at the helm of the Aggies.

During 2024, the Aggies set a new bar for excellence and under the first year tutelage of Plough UC Davis won a school record 11 games, going 11-3 to finish No. 5 in the nation, the highest in the program's FCS history. UC Davis would go on to reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs, getting a second round home game win over No. 12 Illinois State after earning a first round bye as one of the best programs in the nation.

Plough's 11-3 record was the best for a first-year head coach in the nation during the 2024 season and his 11 wins are the most by an Aggie first year head coach, passing legendary Aggie head coach Bob Biggs. Plough was honored for his first year successes by being named the AFCA Region Five Coach of the Year and an Eddie Robinson Award finalist.

2024 was also a season of firsts, and under Plough the Aggies got the program's first win over Eastern Washington, a victory on ESPN2 at than-ranked No. 7 Montana and a win over than-ranked No. 5 Idaho for a victory over the highest ranked program in Aggie history.

Individually, under Plough UC Davis produced several All-Americans as Miles Hastings, David Meyer, Lan Larison and Rex Connors all earned All-American honors to give UC Davis the most All-Americans in one season in program history. UC Davis also set 19 individual records and six team records during a record setting year.

Records that stood out was Hastings' becoming the first Aggie quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards, Larison locking up the career all-purpose yards record and both Meyer and Connors setting and breaking each other's single season solo tackles record.

The former Aggie quarterback brings a wealth of coaching experience and his brilliant offensive mind to UC Davis with 11 campaigns as an offensive coordinator under his belt. Plough comes to Davis from his most recent stint as an assistant coach at Cal, where the Golden Bears achieved six wins in 2023 to punch their ticket to a bowl game. 

Prior to his time in the Bay Area, he served as the offensive coordinator and leader of the quarterback room at Boise State. He was a part of the coaching staff that recruited the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history in 2021, a group that ranked second in the Mountain West. His expertise was immediately put on display when he spearheaded the conference's top offense that ranked seventh nationally in red zone offense, scoring on 92.5% of its trips to the red zone. 

Under Plough's mentorship, Broncos' quarterback Hank Bachmeier reached career-high numbers in completions (252), passing yards (3,079), touchdowns (20), and passing yards-per-game (256.6). 

Plough oversaw the development of First Team All-MWC receiver Khalil Shakir who notched career highs of 77 catches, 1,117 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. The offensive line excelled under Plough during his season in Boise as three linemen earned All-MWC honors in 2021. John Ojukwu received first-team honors while Ben Dooley and Jake Stetz garnered second-team recognition. 

Plough had two separate stints at UC Davis, the most recent being his 2017-2020 stretch. He began his collegiate coaching career with the Aggies in 2008 as a student assistant and quickly climbed the ranks, becoming the offensive coordinator in 2010. He became the youngest offensive coordinator in the nation (FBS and FCS) when he was elevated into that role at the age of 25. Plough held that position through the 2012 season before moving on to Northern Arizona in 2013. 

Plough returned to his alma mater to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons before he was elevated to Associate Head Coach for the next two seasons while maintaining his oversight of the Aggie offense. The San Diego native orchestrated one of the top passing offenses in all of the FCS, ranking sixth nationally in passing yards-per-game (309.2) in 2019. He led the squad to Division I era records in overall (10) and (7) conference victories and grabbed a share of the Big Sky title and the program's first FCS playoff appearance in 2018. 

Plough was a four-year letterwinner as a quarterback for UC Davis from 2004-2007. He became the starter in 2007 for his senior season. In that season, he completed better than 64 percent of his passes for 1,355 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"I am so honored and humbled by this amazing opportunity," Plough said. "UC Davis is always in my heart and I'm a proud "Davis Guy." I want to build on the wonderful program that Coach Hawkins has developed and carry that momentum he's created into the future. I am extremely grateful for Chancellor May and Rocko for this incredible opportunity and for their belief in me. I can't wait to get back to Shredville and find joy every day."
 

COACHING HISTORY
Season: Team – Position (Postseason, Notes)

2008: UC Davis – Student Assistant
2009: UC Davis – Quarterbacks
2010: UC Davis – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2011: UC Davis – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2012: UC Davis – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2013: Northern Arizona – Wide Receivers (FCS Playoffs First Round)
2014: Northern Arizona – Wide Receivers
2015: Northern Arizona – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2016: Northern Arizona – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2017: UC Davis – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2018: UC Davis – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (FCS Quarterfinals)
2019: UC Davis – Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2020: UC Davis – Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (No Fall 2020 Season Due To COVID)
2021: Boise State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2022: Boise State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2023: California – Tight Ends 
2024: UC Davis - Head Coach (11-3; FCS Quarterfinals)
                            - AFCA Region Five Coach of the Year
                            - Eddie Robinson Award Finalist

RECORD AT UC DAVIS (All-time): 11-3 (One season)

BIO
NAME: Tim Plough
BIRTHDAY: June 24, 1985
HOMETOWN: San Diego, CA
HIGH SCHOOL: Ramona HS
COLLEGE: UC Davis - '08 | Bachelor's - History
Ohio - '12 | Master's - Coaching Education
FAMILY: Wife – Christine; Sons – Jackson, Camden, Bodie

What Others Are Saying:
 
"Tim embodies all the qualities that makes this a great hire. He's extremely intelligent, personable, has an insatiable work ethic, and very innovative. He left a positive imprint on everyone associated with the football program and university while he was a student-athlete as well as a coach, here at UC Davis. Coach Hawkins has raised the expectations and Tim will embrace that challenge and lead us forward as we strive for Big Sky Championships and playoff appearances". – Bob Biggs
 
"I'm so fired up that Tim is the next Head Coach for Aggies. We are getting one of the brightest and most talented coaches in the country. He is a man that loves UC Davis. Today is a great day for the Ags." - Ejiro Evero
 
"There is not a person on earth that captures the essence of the UC Davis program - past, present, and the exciting future - like Tim Plough" – Mike Moroski
 
"Fred's [Arp] license plate said "sack QBs" - so his admiration for Tim is a tribute to the quality of his character.  Tim exemplifies what Aggie Pride is about—be the best you can be as a player, a coach, a parent, and a person. All those Coach Plough touch will be better for it. The legacy continues." – Lou Bronzan
 
"It has been my honor and duty to carry on the Aggie Football Legacy. Tim Plough is an amazing ambassador to carry the program to new heights.  Tim is a great family man, person, and coach.  His background is steeped in Sochor, Foster, Biggs, Moroski, Arp, and Bronzan legacy.  Tim is one of the brightest football minds I've been around.  This combined with his passion for Aggie football, bodes well for and exciting future of the program." – Dan Hawkins