Andy Merfeld is headed into his sixth year on the Benedictine College football coaching staff where he currently serves as the Special Teams Coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He and his wife Olivia have one son, Thompson.
2023: Coordinated one of the best special teams units in the country: Benedictine tied for the NAIA lead in blocked kicks, finished fourth in NAIA in gross punt average, fourth in NAIA in gross kickoff average, fifth in NAIA in punt return average, ninth in kickoff return average, tied for eighth in FG/XP percentage against, and swept the First-Team All-Heart special teams awards: Henry Balke (K), Cullen Bruner (P), Zach Philippi (snapper) and JaShawn Todd (returner). Both CBs received all-conference recognition and Jack Hoskins was first-team all-conference.
2022: Undefeated conference champions and #6 national ranking. Led the HAAC in blocked kicks for the fourth year in a row (T-fourth in NAIA), led the HAAC in KOR average (fifth NAIA). Harry Balke (K) and Cullen Bruner (P) were First-Team all-Heart. Both CBs received all-conference recognition and CB Joel Mewis led all NCAA and NAIA players with 239 interception return yards. The defense finished third in the NAIA in takeaways and fourth in sacks.
2021: Led the Heart in blocked kicks (T-sixth in NAIA).
2020: Led all NAIA and NCAA schools in blocked kicks, and finished sixth in the NAIA in punt return yards. Both CBs received all-conference recognition. Assisted on a defense that was one of the best in the country, finishing in the top five in the NAIA in scoring, total defense, rush defense, takeaways, and sacks. Led all NAIA and NCAA schools with four shutouts, and had six games where the defense scored at least as many points as the opposing starting offense.
2019: Led all NAIA and NCAA schools in blocked punts, and led the NAIA in punt return yards. CB Will Alexander was first-team all-conference.
Prior to Benedictine: Came to Benedictine from Upper Iowa University. At UIU, he served as the defensive backs coach for three seasons. In 2017 the Peacocks finished 10th in the country in pass defense. Merfeld also directed one of the top punt block units in the country in 2017, as the group finished second nationally in return touchdowns and fifth in blocks.
Coach Merfeld graduated in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He started his coaching career at Edgewood High School in Madison and worked there for eight seasons, including four as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach. In 2011 the Crusaders set the school record for wins and advanced to the WIAA state semifinals. Merfeld then worked as a graduate assistant for two seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he earned his master’s degree in education. In 2014 the Bulldogs advanced to the national quarterfinals and finished the season ranked third in the country with a 13-1 record.
