Keven Lightner joined Ohio's coaching staff in January, 2005, along with colleagues Ross Els and Gerry Gdowski, both of whom came from the New Mexico State program.

Lightner's impact on the Ohio offensive line has been felt immediately. He coached Matt Coppage to first-team All-MAC honors in 2006, the first such accolades for an Ohio offensive lineman since the 1998 season. Since the start of the 2005 season, the Bobcats are the third-best rushing team in the MAC with 3,982 yards. After allowing 55 sacks in 11 games in 2004, the Ohio offensive line has allowed 39 sacks in the last 25 games. The Bobcats ranked tied for 22nd in the nation in fewest sacks allowed per game in 2006, while they were 33rd in the country in that category in 2005.

An offensive line coach throughout his career, Lightner spent two years on the Aggies' staff working with a group that finished 14th and 15th nationally in rushing offense in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Lightner coached former Outland Trophy candidate Steve Subia, an offensive guard at NMSU.

Lightner served as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Western Kentucky for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, helping the Hilltoppers to a combined record of 20-7 and two I-AA playoffs appearances. In 2001, the WKU offense led the nation in rushing. In 2002, WKU posted a 12-3 record and won the NCAA I-AA national championship. Lightner coached three All-Americans in his stint with the Hilltoppers.

Lightner was an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 1998-2001 and at Northern State (S.D.) from 1996-98. The 1998 Nebraska-Omaha squad led the nation in rushing. Also at Nebraska-Omaha, Lightner coached Chris Bober, a first team All-America selection and current member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

An accomplished player, Lightner earned first-team All-Big Eight honors as an offensive tackle in 1987 at Nebraska, and was selected to participate in the Hula Bowl. After leaving the Cornhuskers, he played professionally in three leagues before entering the coaching ranks - the NFL (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1988), the CFL (Hamilton Tiger Cats, 1990) and the World League of American Football (Montreal Machine, 1991-92).

Lightner, from National City, Calif., earned a degree in secondary education in 1996 from Nebraska. He and his wife Erin have two children, a son, Kade, and a daughter, Alexis.

Lightner's recruiting emphasis includes the Cincinnati area, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.