Chambana Sun

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Myers Hendrickson has joined the Illinois football program as a senior analyst, head coach Bret Bielema announced Monday. Hendrickson brings a championship history and extensive coaching experience at various collegiate levels, including two seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach.

"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 WIU followed a successful three-year run from 2019 to 2021 as head coach at NAIA power Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU), where he had previously served as an assistant in 2014 and 2015.

At KWU, he led the Coyotes to an overall record of 31-5 (.861), winning two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championships in 2019 and 2021. He earned one KCAC Coach of the Year award and one AFCA Region Coach of the Year award. The 2019 team reached 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 campaign with top-25 rankings: No. 3 in 2019, No. 25 in 2020, and No. 10 in 2021. His tenure featured conference and school records for most points (90) and yards (793) in a single game, along with KWU’s season mark for passing yards (4,089).

Before his role at KWU, Hendrickson built 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 College, Hendrickson guided three athletes to single-season records: receptions (73), passing touchdowns (27), and passing yards (3,436). The Kohawks won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championship in 2016 with a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Hendrickson began his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach at Auburn University in 2012 before moving on to Holmes Community College in 2013.

During his collegiate playing career at Western Illinois University (WIU), Hendrickson competed as a wide receiver. As a senior, he was named Phil Steele Preseason College Football Second Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) as a punt returner.

His younger brother Davis was an Academic All-Big Ten outfielder for the Fighting Illini baseball program from 2010-13.

Hendrickson resides with his wife Hannah and their daughter Charlotte.