Defensive Coaching Staff

Tim McGarigle
Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach

Northwestern alum Tim McGarigle was named the program's linebackers coach by Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald on Jan. 9, 2018. In January 2024 he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator.

During his first season back at his alma mater, McGarigle’s linebacker corps, three of his players earned All-Big Ten honors, including sophomore Paddy Fisher being named to the All-Big Ten first team.

Fisher finished 8th in the conference with 116 total tackles and led the team with four forced fumbles. McGarigle’s unit also excelled at taking the ball away, his linebackers helped create 12 turnovers during the 2018 campaign.

McGarigle spent the 2017 campaign as a defensive quality control coach for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers under Head Coach Mike McCarthy. His responsibilities included analyzing opponent game film to identify playbook development and offensive tendencies, as well as compiling team and player reports and coordinating scout teams that the starting defense faces at practice.

Prior to his NFL tenure, McGarigle spent the 2016 season as Linebackers Coach at the University of Illinois, and four seasons (2012-15) at Western Michigan University in the same position along with two years as Defensive Run Game Coordinator. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2011. McGarigle served as a defensive quality control assistant while studying for a master's degree in sports administration, and helped Northwestern improve in rushing, total and scoring defense en route to reaching its fourth straight bowl game.

The Chicago native attended St. Patrick High School and was inducted into to the Shamrock Hall of Fame in 2008. He totaled 107 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a senior in 2001 as the Catholic Metropolitan Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the Catholic All-State and All-Area teams by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Champaign News.

During his college career with the Wildcats, McGarigle totaled a school and FBS-record 545 career tackles, (since 2000, when NCAA tackle records began). As a senior in 2005, he posted 156 tackles and was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Dick Butkus Award. He totaled three consecutive 140-plus-tackle seasons after posting 98 in his debut. McGarigle earned his undergraduate degree in communications studies.

McGarigle was drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round (221st overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. After spending the 2006 season on the Rams' practice squad, he played in 12 games in 2007, primarily on special teams. McGarigle was selected as the team's Iron Man Award winner after the season for his dedication and achievements during team workouts. He also played two seasons (2009-10) in the United Football League, helping the Florida Tuskers win 11 of 14 regular-season games and appear in the championship game both of those seasons.

Tim and his wife, Charlotte, have three daughters, Claire, Catherine and Emily and one son, James.

Harlon Barnett
Assistant Head Coach - Safeties

A 15-plus year veteran of the Big Ten Conference, Harlon Barnett begins his first season as Northwestern's Assistant Head Coach/Safeties Coach. The former All-American at Michigan State and seven-year pro in the NFL has extensive experience serving as a defensive coordinator and coaching defensive backs, while also spending time as a head coach.

Barnett spent 15 of the last 17 seasons in the Big Ten Conference, working in multiple roles at Michigan State. In his most recent stint (2020-23) he held the titles of cornerbacks coach, secondary coach and acting head coach for the Spartans. In 2023, he guided Michigan State to a pair of Big Ten Conference wins after being named the acting head coach mid-season. Barnett coached in his fourth New Year's Six/BCS bowl game at Michigan State in 2021, claiming a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt, as the Spartans finished 11-2 and earned a No. 9 postseason ranking from the Associated Press.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native spent two seasons (2018-19) as defensive coordinator at Florida State after his first stint at Michigan State (2007-17) which he held the titles of secondary coach, assistant head coach, associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Barnett coached 11 defensive backs at Michigan State who were selected in the NFL Draft, four All-Americans, three Thorpe Award semifinalists and 31 All-Big Ten selections. While at FSU, Barnett coached five NFL Draft selections.

In Barnett's first 11 seasons in East Lansing (2007-17), the Spartans were 100-45 with three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and were selected for the College Football Playoff in 2015. He was promoted to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator prior to Michigan State's victory in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic over Baylor, and was appointed the program's associate head coach in June 2017.

Barnett mentored one of the top secondaries in the nation throughout his first coaching stint in East Lansing, as the Spartans ranked among the FBS Top 25 in pass efficiency defense five of his last seven seasons (No. 18 in 2011, No. 3 in 2012, No. 1 in 2013, No. 21 in 2014, No. 17 in 2017). The Spartans also finished ranked in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in pass defense in 2012 (ninth) and 2013 (third). In addition, MSU ranked second in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the nation with 18 interceptions in 2014, and was second in the Big Ten and tied for 23rd in the FBS in 2015 with 15 picks. From 2011-14, the Spartans were the only program to finish in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in both total defense and rushing defense. During his three seasons (2015-17) coordinating the Spartan defense, Michigan State ranked in the FBS Top 25 in both scoring defense and rushing defense in 2015 and 2017.

He also spent three seasons (2004-06) as secondary coach at Cincinnati. In 2006, the Bearcats finished the regular season ranked third in the Big East and No. 23 nationally in pass efficiency defense (109.3 rating). Barnett worked under Nick Saban at LSU in 2003 as a graduate assistant where he was part of the Tigers' National Championship staff. He began his coaching career at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, working with the secondary (1998-99) before earning defensive coordinator (2000-02) responsibilities.

As a player, Barnett was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State and a three-year starter. He was a member of the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team which finished 9-2-1. He was named a first team All-American in 1989 and was selected in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent seven seasons in the NFL for the Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96).

Barnett earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Michigan State. He and his wife Tammy have two children: Todd and Tori.

Christian Smith
Assistant Coach - Defensive Line

Prior to his arrival at Northwestern, Christian Smith served six seasons as a member of the South Dakota State football coaching staff and will again oversaw the development of the entire defensive line in 2022. He mentored the defensive tackles each of his first two seasons before moving to an expanded role in 2019.

A deep Jackrabbit defensive line played a key role in SDSU's run winning the Football Championship Subdivision national title game during the 2022-2023 season. Nine different defensive linemen recorded at least one sack in the 10-game season, highlighted by all-Missouri Valley Football Conference defensive tackle Caleb Sanders' team-leading five. The Jackrabbits tied a program playoff record with seven sacks in the semifinal victory over Delaware.

As a team, SDSU limited opponents to an average of 15 points per game and held the opposition to less than 100 rushing yards four times.

The Jackrabbits remained stout up front during the 2021 season in again advancing to the FCS semifinals. Sanders (6.5 sacks) and defensive end Reece Winkelman (5.5 sacks) were the squad's top two sack artists and were both second-team all-MVFC selections.

In 2019, Smith mentored a Jackrabbit defensive line that increased its sack total by 17 from the previous season, improving from 20 in 2018 to 37. SDSU ranked second among Missouri Valley Football Conference teams in total defense (294.8 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (16.7 points per game), rushing defense (128.9 yards per game) and passing defense (165.8 yards per game).

Individually in 2019, senior defensive end Ryan Earith repeated on the all-MVFC Second Team and freshman defensive end Quinton Hicks was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team. Hicks also received recognition on a pair of Football Championship Subdivision Freshman All-America squads.

In  2018, Smith worked with a defensive tackles group primarily made up of first- and second-year players. Redshirt freshman nose tackle Krockett Krolikowski was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, as well as freshman All-America squads selected by HERO Sports (first team) and Phill Steele (second team).

As a unit, the Jackrabbits’ interior defensive linemen combined for 83 total tackles, including 20 tackles for loss and six sacks.

During his first year at SDSU, Smith coached a group of interior linemen that was anchored by second-team all-MVFC honoree Kellen Soulek, who ranked second on the team with five sacks during his senior season in 2017. Smith aided in the development of a number of returning players at the defensive tackle spots as the remainder his charges were sophomores or younger.

Prior to his arrival in Brookings, Smith most recently served as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Iowa State during the 2016 season. He worked with both the defensive line and outside linebackers under first-year head coach Matt Campbell.

Smith began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Toledo, where he also worked with the defensive line and outside linebackers as a graduate assistant. He was later promoted to interim linebackers coach for the 2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl, which Toledo won over nationally ranked Temple.

As a player, Smith was a four-year starter at defensive end and linebacker for Toledo squads that played in three bowl games. He was selected as a team captain for the 2013 season and finished his senior campaign with 40 total tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks, along with three forced fumbles.

LaMarcus Hicks
Assistant Coach - Cornerbacks Coach

Hicks joins the Wildcats after spending last season in the same role with Utah State. In total, Hicks owns 11 years  of coaching experience in the college ranks, having previously spent time working with the secondaries at Utah State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Jackson State, North Texas, and Concordia.

Prior to coaching, Hicks spent two seasons as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, appearing in 12 games and  recording 12 tackles from 2007-08 after originally signing as an undrafted free agent in 2006.

Last season with Utah State, Hicks' Aggies allowed just 205 passing yards per game (31st in the nation) while recording  11 interceptions. Prior to joining Utah State in 2022, Hicks spent two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at Eastern Michigan, including serving as the team's defensive recruiting coordinator in 2021.

During the 2021 season, Hicks helped Eastern Michigan to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Lending Tree Bowl.  The Eagles finished the season ranking third in the Mid-American Conference and 32nd in the nation with nine fumble recoveries and was fifth in the MAC with eight interceptions. Hicks also mentored Alvinoski LaFleur, who played in the Tropical Bowl All-Star game.

In 2020, Hicks was an integral part of an EMU defensive staff that orchestrated one of the best red zone approaches  in all of college football. Eastern Michigan held opponents scoreless in the red zone eight times in 28 attempts, making EMU the top red zone defense in the MAC and the seventh-best in the nation. The Eagles' defense also proved to be successful at forcing  turnovers throughout its six games in 2020, recovering nine fumbles (ranked first in the MAC, 11th nationally) while recording three interceptions.

Prior to his arrival at Eastern Michigan, Hicks spent the previous two years as the secondary coach at Bowling Green  State University (2018-19). The Falcons tallied 13 interceptions in Hicks' two seasons at BGSU, while ranking sixth nationally in passing yards allowed during the 2018 campaign at just 167.6 yards per game.

Before his stint at Bowling Green, Hicks spent two years (2016-17) at Jackson State as the safeties coach. Hicks was  part of a defense that ranked in the top-40 in the country in total defense at 341.6 yards per contest in 2017. The team ranked No. 29 nationally in passing efficiency allowed (116.68) and No. 16 in passing yards allowed (171.3). In his first season at JSU  in 2016, the program ranked in the top-35 nationally in total defense (348.9) and passing yards allowed (188.0).

Prior to that, Hicks coached two years (2014-15) at North Texas. In his first season with the Mean Green, Hicks  led the cornerbacks into record-breaking territory in 2014. North Texas had seven different defensive backs tally an interception, which was a school record for most DBs in a single season with at least one pick, including two cornerbacks that had interceptions  returned for touchdowns. Cornerback James Jones was named to the Conference-USA second team in 2014 as he was the second-leading tackler and led the team with nine PBUs.

Hicks worked the 2013 season as the defensive backs coach at Concordia University-Ann Arbor. He also worked two  seasons (2011-12) at Truman High School in Taylor, Michigan, as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2011, he helped the Cougars improve 15 points per game in scoring defense. The following season, Truman went 9-2 and won its second playoff  game in school history while allowing only 11.27 points per game. While at Truman, he also served as the school's head track coach.

Hicks began his coaching career in 2010 at Rhodes (Tennessee) College as the wide receivers coach. Three players  at the position were selected all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State as a safety, graduating in  2006 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. In his senior season with the Cyclones, he recorded a conference-leading five interceptions and was named First Team All-Big 12 Conference and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice.

Hicks and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of Markia, LaMarcus II, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon  and Layton Hicks.

Coaching History
2022-23           Utah State – Cornerbacks
2021                Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
2020               Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks
2018-19           Bowling Green – Secondary
2016-17           Jackson State – Safeties
2014-15           North Texas – Cornerbacks
2013                Concordia –Defensive Backs
2011-12            Truman (Michigan) HS – Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2010                Rhodes College – Wide Receivers

Playing Experience
2006-08          Detroit Lions – Safety
2004-05          Iowa State – Safety

D.J. Vokolek
Assistant Coach

D.J. Vokolek was named as a defensive assistant coach at Northwestern by Interim Head Coach David Braun on Aug. 11.

Vokolek comes to Evanston holding three decades worth of coaching experience, most recently spending the 2022 season as Nebraska's senior defensive quality control coach and the 2023 offseason as defensive coordinator at Southern Illinois.

"D.J. brings a wealth of coaching experience to our defensive staff, and I'm thrilled to have him on board," said Braun. "Our paths have crossed before, and I've witnessed firsthand his dedication and expertise. His track record of success and deep understanding of the game will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our team."

Braun and Vokolek overlapped at Northern Iowa during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, where Braun coached the defensive line and linebackers while Vokolek was the team's assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Vokolek served as the assistant head coach for the Panthers from 2017 to 2021.

Prior to his second stint with Northern Iowa, Vokolek was the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at Buffalo in 2015. Before taking the Buffalo job, Vokolek spent nine seasons at Missouri State, occupying the role of associate head coach and defensive coordinator. With the Bears, he coached 14 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer selections and 25 all-conference picks on the defensive side of the ball.

Vokolek made his first stint at Northern Iowa from 2003-05, serving three seasons as assistant head coach. He helped lead the Panthers to a pair of MVFC titles and an appearance in the FCS National Championship game in 2005. In conjunction with his role as assistant head coach, he was the linebackers coach in 2003, co-defensive coordinator in 2004 and defensive coordinator in 2005.

The first 10 years of Vokolek's coaching career were spent in the Cornhusker State. His first job came at Nebraska-Omaha as a graduate assistant before taking his first full-time coaching gig at Wayne State College as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. After one season with the Wildcats, he returned to UNO, staying for six seasons from 1997-02. From 1997 to 1999, Vokolek served as the team's linebackers coach and academic coordinator before assuming the role of defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2000 to 2002.

Vokolek was a three-year team captain and three-time NCAA Division II All-Nebraska selection as a linebacker at Nebraska-Kearney. His son Travis is a rookie tight end with the Baltimore Ravens.

Coaching Career
2023 Offseason: Southern Illinois, Defensive Coordinator
2022: Nebraska, Senior Defensive Quality Control
2017-21: Northern Iowa, Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
2015: Buffalo, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs
2006-14: Missouri State, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2004-2005: Northern Iowa, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2003: Northern Iowa, Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
2000-02: Nebraska-Omaha, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1997-99: Nebraska-Omaha, Linebackers/Academic Coordinator
1996: Wayne State (Neb.), Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
1995: Nebraska-Omaha, Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line
1993-94: Nebraska-Omaha, Graduate Assistant/Linebackers

Northwestern Football Camps are open to all, limited only by age and number of campers