Bill Miller, former defensive coordinator at Louisville University, has been named linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator of the Kansas University football team, the school announced Saturday.

Miller, who has worked as an assistant at 12 schools in his 30-year coaching career, will assist primary KU defensive coordinator Clint Bowen.

“Bill is a highly respected defensive coach in college football,” said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. “His experience, attention to detail and reputation for coaching an aggressive style of play, makes him a great fit for our program. We are excited to have Bill on our staff.”

Miller’s first order of duty will be helping the Kansas defense bounce back from a rough 2008 season. After finishing 12th in total defense in 2007, the Jayhawks fell to 89th this year, thanks largely to a pass defense that ranked 114th (out of 119) in the nation.

Last season, Miller served as the linebackers coach for a Louisville team that improved significantly from the year before. This offseason, he accepted a job as the team’s defensive coordinator before resigning to take the Kansas job.

At Western Michigan in 2007, Miller’s defense proved one of the Mid-American Conference’s best, leading the league in pass efficiency defense, ranking second in sacks and fourth in total defense, pass defense and tackles for loss. In addition to Louisville, Miller has served as a defensive coordinator at Nevada, Oklahoma State, Miami, Michigan State, Arizona State and Western Michigan and was an associate head coach and linebackers coach at Florida .

Miller, who graduated from Hutchinson (Kan.) High in 1974 and later played safety at Hutchinson Junior College, cited returning to his home state as a major factor in his decision to accept the position at Kansas.

“This is also a great opportunity for me to get back to Kansas be close to my dad who lives in Hutchinson, and my brother, who is in Kansas City,” said Miller. ” … Obviously I am very excited about coming home and being part of the Kansas program. Mark has done a great job with this program and I am looking forward to being a part of it and helping them as much as I can. I am really looking forward to working with Clint Bowen and (offensive coordinator) Ed Warinner and the other guys that I know on that staff.”

Miller’s job responsibilities at Kansas are expected to be similar to those held by Bowen in 2007, when he was a co-defensive coordinator to Bill Young before being promoted following Young’s departure for Miami.

Meanwhile, Steve Tovar, who served as the Jayhawks linebackers coach for two seasons, will be leaving the program to “pursue other opportunities,” the university announced Saturday

The vacancy left by Joe Bob Clements, who served as Kansas’ defensive line coach for one season before leaving to take a job at Kansas State last month, has not yet been filled.

Bill Miller File

Coaching Experience

1978 Texas-Arlington Graduate Assistant

1979-80 Oklahoma State Graduate Assistant

1981-82 Drake Secondary

1983-85 Nevada Defensive Coordinator

1986-88 Minnesota Defensive Backs

1989-94 Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator

1995-98 Miami Defensive Coordinator

1999-2002 Michigan State Defensive Coordinator

2003-04 Florida Associate Head Coach/Linebackers

2005-06 Arizona State Defensive Coordinator

2007 Western Michigan Defensive Coordinator

2008 Louisville Linebackers

2009- Kansas Defensive Line

Bowl Games (Season)

1986 Liberty (Minnesota)

1996 Carquest (Miami)

1998 Micron PC (Miami)

1999 Citrus (Michigan State)

2001 Silicon Valley (Michigan State)

2003 Outback (Florida)

2004 Peach (Florida)

2005 Insight (Arizona State)

2006 Insight (Arizona State)

2007 International (Western Michigan)

FCS Playoffs

1983 Semifinals (Nevada)

1985 Semifinals (Nevada)

Playing Experience

1974-75 Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College

1976-77 Texas-Arlington

Education

1974 Hutchinson (Kan.) High School

1978 Texas-Arlington

Personal

Born Hutchinson, Kan.

Wife Lisa

Children Cole and Jackson