Kansas Wesleyan's Matt Myers was stunned when he learned he had been named the NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.
He immediately shared the news with the person he's closest to.
"I texted my wife (Sara) and she said 'Oh my gosh, that's incredible! Congratulations! Who votes on this?'" he said with a smile.
As for Myers himself: "I was surprised as I've ever been. I don't deserve this."
Myers, KWU's second-year defensive coordinator and former Coyote linebacker, was selected for the prestigious award by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). In addition to running the defense he also serves as the program's Strength and Speed Coordinator and directs its community service efforts.
Myers and four other winners (Football Bowl Series, Football Championship Series, Division II, Division III) will be honored during the AFCA Convention on January 10 in San Antonio, Texas.
The award is pinnacle of what has been a poignant year for Myers, who's still dealing with the death of Brandon Baker, aka Dean McQueen. Baker, a special needs person, passed away June 6 eight years after Myers became his guardian/best friend/inseparable companion.
"If you would have told me June 6 that I'd be getting an award for doing something, that's crazy," Myers said. "(Dean) was with me the whole time; I can tell you that. It made me a better coach, I thought about him every day. It was tough."
Much like Myers' defense was during the 2021 season. KWU finished with an 11-2 record, a share of the Kansas Conference title with a 9-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championship.
KWU ranked 10th in the NAIA allowing 291.5 total yards and 19.2 points per game – 16.6 points in conference play.
Myers played for KWU in 2006, took nine years off and finished his career in 2015, earning Second Team All-Kansas Conference honors.
He's in his sixth season as an assistant coach after joining former head coach Matt Drinkall's staff for the 2016 season. He was motivated by a simple desire to hang out with Drinkall, defensive coordinator Vince Filip and defensive assistant John Michaletti.
"I loved coaching and I wanted to be with my buddies because they're all the same age I am," he said. "I volunteered until I got a job."
Myers coached linebackers during the 2016 season, moved to the defensive line in 2017, went back to linebackers in 2018 and moved to the other side of the ball as offensive coordinator in 2019 under new head coach Myers Hendrickson.
"To me it was fun as a defensive guy," he said of the change. "It was intriguing breaking down defenses. At the time I thought that I was better at offense."
Hendrickson named Myers defensive coordinator a year later when Michaletti accepted a job at Mount Marty.
"Coach Myers has been directly involved in all facets of our program," Hendrickson said. "Having spent time on both sides of the ball coaching while also serving as Strength and Speed Coordinator he has been instrumental to all the success of Coyote football.
"He brings great energy and excitement to our staff and players. Our defense played outstanding football under his leadership this fall and look forward to continued success. There's no one more deserving of this honor."
Myers is looking forward to the offseason when KWU athletes can get in the weight room and resume training regimens that have been on hold since March, 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We haven't had a true offseason in the last two years," he said. "That type of stuff that you do in the offseason – the lifting, the training – we need it back in college football so badly."
Myers said he particularly enjoys the community service piece and keeps his defensive athletes busy.
"A friend of mine called a month and a half ago and said 'I need some dudes to help me move my neighbor,'" he said. "I said 'I've got bodies' and I showed up too and helped those people. That's very rewarding when kids show up outside of football and meetings."
That goes for classroom work as well.
"If you look at our (team) grade point average kids are showing up and doing stuff right in the classroom," he said. "They're completing tasks outside of football, we were winning stuff outside of football."
In the short-term Myers and the Coyotes are ready for some down time after 16 frantic months.
"We're going to let the kids decompress from playing football," he said. "We've been playing since August of 2020, which is crazy. It's been a very interesting time."
Myers' upcoming schedule will include the trip to San Antonio for which he is grateful.
"I have to thank the players number one and I have to credit my wife, my kids, my entire family," he said. "There's also the staff – (Walker) Torrain, (David) Leonard and Travis Benoist. Torrain and Leonard came in late July and did an incredible job and did so much for me. Travis has been with me forever.
"I'm not a professional coach, I'm just a guy that got lucky. If you can transfer enough information to young people, you can probably be successful."