CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Myers Hendrickson joined the Illinois football program as a senior analyst, head coach Bret Bielema announced Monday. Hendrickson brings a championship history and a wide array of coaching experience at all levels of the collegiate game, including two seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach, to the Illini staff.
"I have watched Myers entire coaching career continue to grow over the years," Bielema said. "He has had an incredible amount of success and experiences in a very short window of time. He will work with our defensive staff to forecast future opponents as well as game week prep."
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Bielema's staff and Illinois football," Hendrickson said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to work with such an outstanding staff and group of student-athletes. It's an exciting time for Illini football, and I know more big things are ahead for this program under Coach Bielema's leadership. My wife, Hannah, our daughter, Charlotte, and I are excited to be in Champaign and join the famILLy."
Hendrickson comes to Urbana-Champaign after two seasons (2022-23) in Macomb, Illinois, as the head coach of his alma mater, Western Illinois. He was hired as the Leathernecks' 31st head coach in December 2021, returning to guide the same program where he played from 2008-11 during his father Mark's tenure as head coach (2008-12).
Hendrickson's stint at the helm of the WIU program brought him back to Illinois following a highly successful three-year run, from 2019 to 2021, as head coach at NAIA power Kansas Wesleyan where he had previously served as an assistant in 2014 and 2015.
He led the Coyotes to an overall record of 31-5 (.861), the highest win percentage in program history, while winning two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championships in 2019 and 2021, one KCAC Coach of the Year award, and one AFCA Region Coach of the Year award. The 2019 team reached as high as No. 2 in the national coaches' poll - the highest ranking in school and conference history.
Hendrickson's KWU squads twice ended their seasons in the NAIA Quarterfinals and finished each of his three campaigns with top-25 rankings, coming in at No. 3 in 2019, No. 25 in 2020, and No. 10 in 2021. His tenure featured conference and school records for the most points (90) and yards (793) in a single game, as well as the Coyotes' season mark in passing yards (4,089).
Prior to his hire as the head coach at KWU, Hendrickson had already begun to establish a reputation as a successful offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NCAA Division II Northern State University (2018), and Division III Coe College (2016-17).
While at Coe, Hendrickson guided three athletes to single-season records, including receptions (73), passing touchdowns (27), and passing yards (3,436). The Kohawks crowned the 2016 season as Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champions with a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. In his first season with the program, the offense ranked 15th in the nation in rushing offense with 253.7 yards per game, 26th in the nation in total offense with 473.6 yards per game, and 23rd in the nation in red-zone offense, scoring 86.8 percent of the time.
Hendrickson began his coaching career in the SEC as the defensive quality control coach at Auburn University in 2012, before moving on to Holmes Community College in 2013.
During his collegiate playing career, Hendrickson competed as a wide receiver for Western Illinois, playing in every game during his last two seasons. As a senior, he was named Phil Steele Preseason College Football Second Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) as a punt returner.
His three seasons playing at WIU also saw him land on the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Academic Team each season, along with receiving the Dr. Frank Sorenson Award for Academic Achievement – awarded to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the football team.
Hendrickson's younger brother, Davis, was an Academic All-Big Ten outfielder in the Fighting Illini baseball program from 2010-13.
Hendrickson and his wife, Hannah, have one daughter, Charlotte.
"I have watched Myers entire coaching career continue to grow over the years," Bielema said. "He has had an incredible amount of success and experiences in a very short window of time. He will work with our defensive staff to forecast future opponents as well as game week prep."
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Bielema's staff and Illinois football," Hendrickson said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to work with such an outstanding staff and group of student-athletes. It's an exciting time for Illini football, and I know more big things are ahead for this program under Coach Bielema's leadership. My wife, Hannah, our daughter, Charlotte, and I are excited to be in Champaign and join the famILLy."
Hendrickson comes to Urbana-Champaign after two seasons (2022-23) in Macomb, Illinois, as the head coach of his alma mater, Western Illinois. He was hired as the Leathernecks' 31st head coach in December 2021, returning to guide the same program where he played from 2008-11 during his father Mark's tenure as head coach (2008-12).
Hendrickson's stint at the helm of the WIU program brought him back to Illinois following a highly successful three-year run, from 2019 to 2021, as head coach at NAIA power Kansas Wesleyan where he had previously served as an assistant in 2014 and 2015.
He led the Coyotes to an overall record of 31-5 (.861), the highest win percentage in program history, while winning two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championships in 2019 and 2021, one KCAC Coach of the Year award, and one AFCA Region Coach of the Year award. The 2019 team reached as high as No. 2 in the national coaches' poll - the highest ranking in school and conference history.
Hendrickson's KWU squads twice ended their seasons in the NAIA Quarterfinals and finished each of his three campaigns with top-25 rankings, coming in at No. 3 in 2019, No. 25 in 2020, and No. 10 in 2021. His tenure featured conference and school records for the most points (90) and yards (793) in a single game, as well as the Coyotes' season mark in passing yards (4,089).
Prior to his hire as the head coach at KWU, Hendrickson had already begun to establish a reputation as a successful offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NCAA Division II Northern State University (2018), and Division III Coe College (2016-17).
While at Coe, Hendrickson guided three athletes to single-season records, including receptions (73), passing touchdowns (27), and passing yards (3,436). The Kohawks crowned the 2016 season as Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champions with a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. In his first season with the program, the offense ranked 15th in the nation in rushing offense with 253.7 yards per game, 26th in the nation in total offense with 473.6 yards per game, and 23rd in the nation in red-zone offense, scoring 86.8 percent of the time.
Hendrickson began his coaching career in the SEC as the defensive quality control coach at Auburn University in 2012, before moving on to Holmes Community College in 2013.
During his collegiate playing career, Hendrickson competed as a wide receiver for Western Illinois, playing in every game during his last two seasons. As a senior, he was named Phil Steele Preseason College Football Second Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) as a punt returner.
His three seasons playing at WIU also saw him land on the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Academic Team each season, along with receiving the Dr. Frank Sorenson Award for Academic Achievement – awarded to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the football team.
Hendrickson's younger brother, Davis, was an Academic All-Big Ten outfielder in the Fighting Illini baseball program from 2010-13.
Hendrickson and his wife, Hannah, have one daughter, Charlotte.
