DETROIT -- Western Michigan University head football coach Tim Lester will never forget his first job out of college.

He had just wrapped up his four-year career with the Broncos, throwing for 3,639 yards and 34 touchdowns (third in the NCAA that year for TD passes) during his senior season in 1999.

Lester was not drafted by an NFL team, but he wanted to continue to play football to show he deserved to be on an NFL roster.

That's when the Xtreme Football League came calling. Lester signed with the Chicago Enforcers for the 2001 season, the only year of the league which was controlled by the World Wrestling Federation and known for its outlandish rules.

But while the XFL was widely criticized for a lack of high-end talent and emphasizing violence and cheerleaders as a source of sex appeal, it did offer an opportunity for players like Lester to continue their football careers.

Seventeen years later, XFL founder Vince McMahon announced in January the eight-team league will be returning in 2020.

"I think it is awesome," Lester said at Ford Field on Tuesday for Mid-American Conference Media Day. "I had a blast doing it. It was my first job out of college and I made like $70,000 in my first couple of months, which is a great first job."

When the XFL folded after the 2001 season, Lester played two seasons in the Arena Football League before receiving his first coaching job as the offensive coordinator at Elmhurst College.

He said the return of the XFL can give players more opportunities to develop for the NFL.

"There are guys that we had that played tight end that the NFL would love to try and turn into tackles," Lester said. "(For changing positions), it would be awesome if they can send them somewhere, help them develop and then it would make the NFL stronger, too. Any opportunity you give these guys to continue playing what I think is the greatest game in the world is great."

The location of the teams, the team names and the format of games has not been determined, but Lester is intrigued by the possibilities.

"I don't know if it will be the same or different, but I will go to a game for sure to get a feel for it," he said.

In the meantime, Lester is preparing for his second season as the Broncos' head coach. They finished 6-6 last year and 4-4 in the MAC.

Here is what else he had to say at media day:

Lester on calling plays on offense in 2018

"I am running the offense again, which is what i have always done. I am a lot more comfortable in this role, being in the quarterback room and calling plays. My first seven years of being a head coach, that is what I did. Last year was the first time I didn't. it was boring. So now I am way more at ease.

"We had 21 season-ending injuries last year, and 15 weren't back for spring ball but they are all healthy now. I think everyone is just excited to put a healthy team out there again and get back to work."

On opening season at home against Syracuse

"To bring an ACC team into Kalamazoo is awesome. Our town will come out and support us. They will be loud and it will be a great atmosphere."

On addition of 6-foot-4 WR Drake Harris, a graduate transfer from Michigan

"We need a guy who can get us down the field, a guy who can go up and compete for a ball. He brings length, he runs well, but we need a guy so where people can't just say, 'We'll play man and the game is over.'

"That is what we had with Corey Davis a couple years ago. You had to put two over him, and that made our running game better. But if people want to challenge our run game -- we have a solid run game -- then we have to have someone that can win a one-on-one matchup, and that is what we are counting on him to do."