Matt Merkens | Sam Houston State
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Team: Sam Houston State
Organization: NCAA Football
Position: Tight Ends Coach
League: C-USA
Hometown: Marble Falls, TX
Organization: NCAA Football
Position: Tight Ends Coach
League: C-USA
Hometown: Marble Falls, TX
Biography
Former Sam Houston player Matt Merkens is entering his fifth season as a full-time coach with the Bearkats.
Since moving into his current role he has worked directly with the team's tight ends, transforming the room into one of the strongest positions on the Bearkat roster. He also served in a play-calling capacity for the final half of the 2022 season, taking over duties completely directing the SHSU offense.
Merkens served as the offensive quality control coach for the Kats from 2018-2020 before being promoted into his current position prior to the 2021 Spring season that saw the Kats claim the program’s first FCS national title.
After taking over the role just weeks prior to the Kats’ first game, he helped guide one of the top tight ends in the Southland Conference, Isaac Schley, to the all-SLC second team 2020.
Prior to 2018 he was an offensive assistant, working with the wide receivers from 2016-2017 before being promoted to offensive quality Control working with the quarterbacks under offensive coordinator Ryan Carty.
He returned to Sam Houston in 2015 after a short stint at Western Colorado where he served as the offensive graduate assistant, coaching wide receivers.
A 2015 graduate of Sam Houston, Merkens served as a student intern for the 2013 and 2014 seasons under head coaches Willie Fritz and K.C. Keeler.
He is the son of former Bearkat quarterback Guido Merkens who played at Sam Houston from 1974-76 and played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Oilers.
Merkens and his wife, Alexis, are the parents of their son, Tate.
