Bruce Tall, Harvard’s defensive coordinator for the last four years, was named defensive line coach at Western Michigan yesterday.

Tall was instrumental in assisting head coach Tim Murphy during Harvard’s undefeated 2001 season. In 1999 and 2000, Tall’s defensive units led the Ivy League in rushing defense. Known as an accomplished linebacker coach as well, Tall has overseen such Crimson stars as Isaiah Kacyvenski ’00 and Dante Balestracci ’04.

In joining the Broncos, located in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tall will be moving closer to his family. He will be working under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

The announcement of Tall’s departure saddened Harvard players, many of whom said they considered Tall their favorite assistant coach.

“He’s one of the most honest, kind men I’ve ever known,” said junior linebacker John Perry. “He put us in position to win last season.”

Several previous Murphy assistants have moved on to more prominent coaching ranks, and Tall will have an opportunity to prove himself against W. Michigan opponents like Virginia Tech and Michigan. He already proved himself at Harvard, having won the Gridiron Club’s 2001 Assistant Coach of the Year award in January.

Before joining the Crimson in 1998, Tall held coaching positions at Northeastern, Cornell and his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan.