Leathernecks New Coach?

[MadBird]

WIU reaching into NAIA for its next HC?? Former WIU player Myers Hendrickson, from Kansas Wesleyan.

Sources: Myers Hendrickson set to become new Western Illinois head coach

A former WIU standout player, Hendrickson has led Kansas Wesleyan to 31 wins in the past 3 years.

footballscoop.com

 

[TIMMY]

Didn't they fire his Dad?

 

[MadBird]

Didn't they fire his Dad?

I assume so, think he only had one winning season - early to mid 00's?

 

[TIMMY]

I assume so, think he only had one winning season - early to mid 00's?

So Dad has been coaching WR's for Myers at KWU. If he comes back to Macomb with him? That would be something!

 

[MadBird]

In other MVFC coaching news, we're rid of the Jackrabbits OC:

Idaho (FCS): Sources confirm to FootballScoop that South Dakota State (FCS) offensive coordinator Jason Eck is expected to accept the Idaho head coaching job. Bruce Feldman has reported the same this evening.

The Scoop - Saturday December 18, 2021

Since 1999, all sources remain confidential. Mail@FootballScoop.com or 225.229.3429 2021-22 Tracking Pages: Our pages tracking the hires across college

footballscoop.com

 

[ST_Lawson]

Didn't they fire his Dad?

We did, yes, although there's a bit more to that story.

Mark Hendrickson came to Macomb as the OC in '99 when Don Patterson became our HC. He was OC from '99-'07 at which point he had to start stepping in as HC due to Patterson undergoing treatment for throat cancer (which Patterson eventually recovered from). '08 and '09 some games were under Hendrickson and some were under Patterson. Patterson was unceremoniously forced out and Hendrickson took over officially in '10 but was let go in '12 after a couple of rough seasons. In that timeframe we had some up and downs, but definitely had some offensive success with players like QB Russ Michna, RB Herb Donaldson, and QB Matt Barr (all of whom received at least one conference offensive POY award and finished in the top 10 in Payton Award voting). My point is, the elder Hendrickson was one of those guys who was a really good OC, but was not a great HC. He actually stayed around town for a while after that, deciding to become a minister at a nearby church and then a few years later, becoming the Director of the WIU Wesley Foundation where he served at least through 2018.

By the sounds of it, Myers Hendrickson has just as much talent (if not more) on the offensive side of the ball as his dad did. It remains to be seen who he is able to bring in to coach the defensive side of the ball though. He's young and has a lot of passion about this job and has already won over a lot of the community, football alumni, and many of the current players. Because his dad came here in '99, he essentially grew up here, from around 4th grade through to graduating from Macomb High. He went to Cornell University for a year before deciding to come back home and play for 3 years for the Leathernecks. He wasn't a standout player, but was a solid contributor on special teams and occasionally on offense as a WR.

Positives - He knows the community and the university very well (so we won't be scared off by us being a small town pretty far away from stuff). He already has a lot of support from the community with people that knew him and his family when they were here. He has a ton of love and passion for the program itself. He was 31-5 in his HC experience, albeit at the NAIA level.

Negatives - The jump from NAIA to DI FCS can be a pretty big one. Also, he's never had to turn around a program that has struggled like we have the last few years...he took over an already good Kansas Wesleyan team and helped them continue their success.

I see him as a bit more of a risk than an established DI coach...like a coordinator at a FBS school or something...but he could bring the kind of energy we need to breathe new life into our football program. He seems like the kind of guy who, if he is able to be successful, we could actually keep around for a while, since this is essentially "home" for him.

Also, one small coincidence connected to the previous post mentioning SDSU OC Jason Eck being named HC at Idaho...Eck spent a year at Western as an O-Line/Run Game coordinator...in 2012...under HC Mark Hendrickson: Jason Eck - Football Coach - Western Illinois University Athletics
Also on that 2012 staff: Current Washington State DC Brian Ward

 

[TIMMY]

Great post thanks. NAIA is a jump, but if you can recruit NAIA you can recruit anywhere. It would be cool if dad came back with him. I love stories like that.

 

[MadBird]

More good news, we may be rid of the Panthers DC, to Kent State (HC is Sean Lewis, from Richards HS and Wisconsin):

Sources tell FootballScoop that Northern Iowa defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson will be the new defensive coordinator on Sean Lewis' staff.

Johnson has been a staple of Mark Farley's staff at UNI. He's spent the past 14 seasons on staff, and the past eight as defensive coordinator.

Sources: Kent State finds their defensive coordinator in the FCS ranks

Kent State is set to hire the architect of one of the top FCS defenses to fill their defensive coordinator opening.

footballscoop.com

 

[MadBird]

Another "defection" from the Jackrabbits, WR coach/passing game coordinator:

Idaho (FCS): South Dakota State (FCS) passing game coordinator / wide receivers coach Luke Schleusner is expected to become the new offensive coordinator for Jason Eck at Idaho, Bruce Feldman tweets.

The Scoop - Wednesday December 29, 2021

Since 1999, all sources remain confidential. Mail@FootballScoop.com or 225.229.3429 2021-22 Tracking Pages: Our pages tracking the hires across college

footballscoop.com

 

[MadBird]

Wow, this might deserve its own thread, but are the wheels coming off in Charleston??

Adam Cushing, who had a 15-year run at Northwestern and spent the past three-plus years as head coach at Eastern Illinois, is returning to the Football Bowls Subdivision as an assistant coach.

Sources: Duke, Mike Elko tabbing FCS head coach for offensive line coach

Elko is nabbing a long-time Big Ten assistant and current FCS head coach

footballscoop.com

 

[DaveBird10]

Wow, this might deserve its own thread, but are the wheels coming off in Charleston??

Sources: Duke, Mike Elko tabbing FCS head coach for offensive line coach

Elko is nabbing a long-time Big Ten assistant and current FCS head coach

footballscoop.com

Just saw this, idk what to think about this if I am a Duke football fan and with EIU what do you do now?

 

[cubird]

Probably easily double his 200,000 $ salary. With OVC conference in a flux and Eastern IL with limited resources.. opportunity to get back in a P5 program.

 

[Dmills]

At least 3 Leathernecks entering the transfer portal in the last 24 hours. I think they are in Spring camp, so thought the timing was interesting. I know we have had guys entering the transfer portal recently, but none during camp to my knowledge.