Billy VandeMerkt

Billy VandeMerkt is in his second year with the University of Iowa football program. After serving as an offensive analyst in 2025, he was elevated to quarterbacks coach prior to the start of the 2026 season.

In his first season on the Hawkeye staff, VandeMerkt helped lead Iowa to nine victories, culminating in a 34-27 triumph over No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Iowa finished the 2025 campaign ranked No. 17 nationally. Working with the offense in 2025, VandeMerkt helped the Hawkeyes improve their scoring average to 29.3 points per game. Furthermore, Iowa’s 34 points in the bowl win over the Commodores marked the fourth-most points scored by the program in a bowl game.

VandeMerkt joined the Hawkeyes after spending four seasons as an offensive assistant coach for the NFL’s New York Jets (2021-24). 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 New York (2021-22), VandeMerkt worked primarily with the tight ends.

At the 2022 Senior Bowl, VandeMerkt was elevated to tight ends coach for the National Team, working with six tight ends as part of a staff that secured a 20-10 victory. During the game, tight ends finished as the National Team’s top two receivers and accounted for both touchdown receptions.

 

Prior to his time in the NFL, VandeMerkt spent seven seasons coaching at the collegiate level. He coached quarterbacks at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2020 following three seasons on staff under current Hawkeye offensive coordinator Tim Lester at Western Michigan (2017-19).

VandeMerkt served as running backs coach at the University of West Florida from 2015-16, helping build the school’s inaugural football program ahead of its first season of competition in 2016. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southwest Minnesota State after serving as a student assistant at Saint Joseph’s College (Indiana).

A four-year starting quarterback (2010-13) and three-year team captain at Saint Joseph’s College, VandeMerkt earned Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Freshman of the Year honors in 2010, second-team all-conference accolades as a senior, and two all-conference honorable mention selections. He finished his collegiate playing career with 6,432 passing yards and 56 touchdown passes.

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

VandeMerkt's Coaching Career
Team – Position, Years
Iowa – QB, 2026-Present
Iowa – Analyst, 2025
New York Jets – OAC, 2021-24
Lenor-Rhyne – QB, 2020
Western Michigan – GA, 2018-19
Western Michigan – STQC, 2017
West Florida – RB, 2015-17
SW Minnesota State – RB, 2014