Northwestern hires ex-star linebacker Tim McGarigle as safeties coach

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern has hired former Wildcats star linebacker Tim McGarigle as safeties coach.

The FBS record-holder with 545 tackles, McGarigle is joining coach Pat Fitzgerald's staff for the second time. He served as a graduate assistant in 2011.

McGarigle spent this season as a defensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers and coached linebackers at Illinois (2016) and Western Michigan (2012-15). A Chicago product, McGarigle had at least 140 tackles in his final three seasons at Northwestern and was a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award as a senior in 2005.

Northwestern announced the hiring Tuesday.