Billy VandeMerkt

Billy VandeMerkt is in his second year as an offensive football analyst with the University of Iowa football program. He added quarterback coach to his responsibilities in 2026.

VandeMerkt joined the Hawkeyes after serving as an offensive assistant coach for the New York Jets for the past five years.

In his first season on the Hawkeye staff, VandeMerkt and the Hawkeyes won nine games, including a 34-27 triumph over No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Iowa finished the 2025 campaign ranked No. 17 nationally. VandeMerkt worked with the offense in 2025, assisting the Hawkeyes improve their scoring offense to 29.3 points per game. Furthermore, Iowa’s 34 points in the bowl win over the Commodores were fourth-most the program scored in a bowl game.

The Chicago native worked primarily with the Jets’ quarterbacks in 2024, after working with the offensive line in 2023. In his first two seasons with the Jets (2021-22), VandeMerkt worked primarily with the tight ends.

In the 2022 Senior Bowl, he was elevated to tight end coach working with the National Team’s six TEs as part of a staff that won 20-10. In the game, tight ends comprised the National Team’s top two receivers as well as catching two touchdowns.

 

Prior to joining the Jets, VandeMerkt was a coach at the college level for seven seasons. VandeMerkt coached quarterbacks at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2020, after three seasons with current Hawkeye offensive coordinator Tim Lester at Western Michigan (2017-19). 

Prior to Western Michigan, VandeMerkt was a running backs coach at West Florida from 2015-17, where he helped establish the school’s first ever football program and hosted its inaugural season in 2016.

He began his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, St. Joseph’s College, before moving to Southwest Minnesota State. In 2015, he was a part of the group that establish the school’s first ever football program at West Florida, as the Argonauts began play in 2016.

VandeMerkt was a four-year starter at quarterback (2010-13) and a three-year captain at St. Joseph’s College. He was a second team all-conference selection as a senior and earned Freshman of the Year honors in 2010. He was also a two-time all-conference honorable mention. VandeMerkt closed his four-year career passing for 6,432 yards and 56 touchdowns.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Saint Joseph’s College.