When Western Michigan football head coach Tim Lester took the job in the 2017 season, expectations were already high.
Former coach and now head coach at Minnesota, P.J. Fleck, had the program at a historic level in 2016. He took the Broncos to the Cotton Bowl and guided them to their first MAC championship since 1988 and just fourth in program history during a 13-1 season before leaving for the Gophers.
Since Lester took the job at his alma mater, he has made it clear to his teams that one of the goals each season is to win a MAC title.