Matt Merkens is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Tight ends coach |
| Team | Sam Houston State |
| Conference | Conference USA |
| Playing career | |
| 2010–2012 | Sam Houston State |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2013–2014 | Sam Houston State (SA) |
| 2015 | Western Colorado (GA) |
| 2016–2017 | Sam Houston State (OA) |
| 2018–2019 | Sam Houston State (OQC) |
| 2020–2022 | Sam Houston State (TE) |
| 2022 | Sam Houston State (OC/QB) |
| 2023–present | Sam Houston State (TE) |
Playing career
editMerkens grew up in Marble Falls, Texas and attended Marble Falls High School.[1] After high school, he enrolled at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) and joined the Bearkats football team as a walk-on.[2] Merkens was a backup quarterback for the Bearkats for three seasons.[3]
Coaching career
editMerkens began his coaching career as a student coaching intern at Sam Houston State for his final two seasons at the school. After graduating in 2015, he was hired as a graduate assistant at Western Colorado.[3] Merkens returned to Sam Houston State as an offensive assistant after one season and worked primarily with wide receivers before being promoted to an offensive quality control position in 2018. He was promoted to tight ends coach prior to the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season.[4] During the 2022 season, Merkens was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the demotion of coordinator John Perry.[5] He was moved back to coaching tight ends after SHSU hired Brad Cornelsen as offensive coordinator.
Personal life
editMerkens' father, Guido Merkens, played quarterback at Sam Houston State and in the National Football League.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Former Mustang in FCS championship game with Sam Houston State". River Cities Daily Tribune. January 4, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ a b "Former Mustang Merkens to walk on at Sam Houston State". River Cities Daily Tribune. August 6, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Finke, Garrett (July 17, 2017). "Dooley and Merkens join staff in 2015". GoMountaineers.com (Press release). Western Colorado University Athletic Department. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "John Perry 'demoted' as Kats offensive coordinator". The Huntsville Item. October 18, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Former Texans assistant demoted as Sam Houston OC". Houston Chronicle. October 18, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.