University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Graduate Assistant
Mike McElroy is in his second season as a defensive graduate assistant at Minnesota.
Prior to coming to Minnesota, McElroy coached football and taught physical education at Elverado-Trico High School. At the age 24, he was the youngest head coach in southern Illinois. Under McElroy, five Falcons earned all-conference honors, which was the most in program history in the past seven years.
His previous coaching experience includes serving as assistant defensive backs and wide receivers coach at Marion High School. In 2011, McElroy attended the AFCA's Future Coaches of America Academy.
During his playing career at Southern Illinois, McElroy was the starting strong safety and a two-time team captain. He twice earned All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team accolades. He played for head coach Jerry Kill as a freshman in 2007. In his 2010 season, which was cut short by injury, McElroy was a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award (national player of the year). He also created and promoted the Salukis Black Out Cancer Game, which started in 2011 when he was a senior.
McElroy earned his bachelor's degree in health education from Southern Illinois in 2012. In addition to his on-field football honors, he was also named an Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star and a member of the MVC All-Academic Team.
