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Jim Meyer spent the 2008 year on the Wayne State football staff as linebackers coach.
Meyer was instrumental in the turnaround of the Warrior defense going from 125th in scoring defense in 2007 (34.8 points per game) to sixth in 2008 (14.6 ppg). The Warriors finished ninth in the country in turnover margin, 29th in sacks and 42nd in tackles for loss. All this helped Wayne State equal the school record for wins in a season, while setting the school mark for conference wins in a year.
He also coached First Team All-GLIAC linebacker Matt Shango, who earned Second Team All-Region honors along with Second Team All-GLIAC linebacker Tristan Black, who was selected for the East Coast Bowl.
He previously served four years (2004-07) on the staff at Ashland. In 2007, Meyer served as the defensive line coach and also as the head junior varsity coach. In 2005 he directed a defense (as defensive coordinator) that was second in the nation in scoring defense and seventh in total defense. That season, AU held four opponents to three points or less.
Prior to joining the AU staff, Meyer spent two seasons at Akron (2002-03) as defensive ends coach after working both the 1995 and 1996 campaigns also on the Zips staff. As Akron's defensive ends coach in 1995 and 1996 Meyer coached future NFL All-Pro Jason Taylor. In 1996, Akron was third in the Mid-American Conference in total defense.
Following his first tenure at the University of Akron, he was the head football coach and athletic director at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron. His 1998 team posted the first winning season in nine years and the 1999 team advanced to the state playoffs. Meyer coached the high school team for five years (1997-2001).
A 1976 University of Akron graduate, he was the defensive coordinator at Bethany College from 1982-86. He also has head coaching experience from Kenyon College (1989-94). He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference coach of the year during that stint and led the Lords to a share of the conference title in 1989.
As a player, he was a captain and middle guard on the 1976 Akron team that finished as the NCAA Division II runner-up.
Meyer and his wife, Kathy, have two sons, Jay and Chris.
