Western Michigan HC Tim Lester tests positive for COVID-19

Western Michigan Broncos head coach Tim Lester Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester tests positive for COVID-19

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 21, 2021 2:11 PM ET

The Western Michigan Broncos will be without head coach Tim Lester for this coming Saturday's home game against the San Jose State Spartans.

Per Tyler J. Davis of the Detroit Free Press, Lester confirmed in a released statement that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after he experienced "mild symptoms" on Sunday and will be away from the team until some point next week.

"Thankfully, due to being fully vaccinated, I am feeling OK," Lester explained in the release. "Our program has practiced, and will continue to practice athletic department safety guidelines and protocols. ... I look forward to overcoming the adversity from this positive test result."

Statement from head football coach Tim Lester. pic.twitter.com/YztUpLlJwm
— Western Michigan Football (@WMU_Football) September 21, 2021

Lester will handle his duties virtually this week. As Adam Rittenberg wrote for ESPN, Western Michigan hasn't yet officially announced who will serve as interim head coach versus San Jose State.

Western Michigan is coming off an upset 44-41 road win against the Pittsburgh Panthers that improved the Broncos to 2-1 on the season. It was Western Michigan's first victory over a Power 5 opponent under Lester.

Lester hopes to be cleared to coach at the Buffalo Bulls on Oct. 2.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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