Colton Meyers is entering his fourth year on the coaching staff at Missouri Southern in 2024, taking over as the offensive coordinator and maintaining his responsibility for coaching the quarterbacks.
Year three saw Luke Sampson settle into his role as the starting quarterback, finishing with a 25-7 touchdown to interception ratio. He completed 174-291 passes, throwing for 2,514 yards on the year. On National Signing Day, the Lions signed 44 players from Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, and American Samoa.
Year two would see quarterback duties split between Dawson Herl and Luke Sampson as the Lions combined to go 158-of-287 for 1,793 yards while throwing only seven interceptions. On the recruiting front the Lions signed 43 on national signing day with players from Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, Colorado, California, Florida and Iowa.
Year one saw Dawson Herl win the quarterback battle and have one of the better freshman season's in program history. Herl finished the season with 2,260 yards throwing only six interceptions and finished with 177 completions. Set a single-season and career record with 138 attempts before his first interception in his career along with having the third best passing total and completions for a freshman in school history and his yardage was good for ninth overall in the school's history.
Meyers comes to the Lions from McKendree University where he coached with Lions' head coach Atiba Bradley.
Meyers returned to the McKendree University football coaching staff prior to the 2017 season as the Bearcats' wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. Meyers spent the 2016 season as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Prior to the 2018 season, Meyers was moved into the role of quarterbacks coach and will continue to serve as the Bearcats' recruiting coordinator.
In 2019, Meyers helped freshman quarterback Turner Pullen to the Great Lakes Valley Conferenc Freshman of the Year award. Pullen completed 169-of-280 Pass attempts for 2,407 yards with 24 touchdowns, all of which represent program records for a freshman quarterback.
Meyers helped senior quarterback Reece Metcalf enjoy a record-breaking season in 2018. Metcalf tossed a school-record 27 touchdown passes while throwing for 2,622 yards in the process. The Bearcats' signal-caller ranked third among all NCAA Division II quarterbacks in passing efficiency with a rating of 172.8 for the entire 2018 campaign. Metcalf was also ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Division II in completion percentage (sixth at .658) and points responsible for per game (ninth at 18.8 PPG) on his way to second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors.
In 2017, Meyers was able to aid in the emergence of wide receiver Jalyn Williams, who caught a career-high 45 passes for 596 yards. He ranked fourth in the GLVC in receptions and receiving yards per game as well. Four of Williams' receptions went for touchdowns to also lead the Bearcats on his way to second-team All-GLVC honors after the season.
Meyers first became a member of the McKendree football coaching staff prior to the 2014 season. Meyers served as a graduate assistant coach in 2014 and 2015 for the Bearcats and tutored the team's tight ends. Meyers also helped coach wide receiver Matt Cole, who went on to play in the NFL and is currently a member of the Carolina Panthers.
Meyers originally came to McKendree after serving as an intern at Southwest Minnesota State University. There, Meyers served a variety of roles. He helped coach the Mustangs' defensive line, served as a strength and conditioning coach and assisted the recruiting coordinator. Meyers was also an adminstrator for the SMSU football camps.
Prior to his experience at Southwest Minnesota State, Meyers spent one year as an assistant coach at Elverado-Trico High School in Illinois. Meyers was the Falcons' defensive line coach and special teams assistant.
A native of Williamsville, Ill., Meyers graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in sports administration with a minor in coaching. He earned his master's degree from McKendree in 2016.
