SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State head football coach Dave Steckel has announced the recent hire of Lynn Mentzer as director of football operations for his program.
 
Mentzer comes to Missouri State from Coastal Carolina University where she has served in a similar capacity since 2005.
 
"She has worked in the football office at Coastal Carolina since the inception of that program and worked her way up," said Steckel who enters his fourth year as Bears' head coach. "Her work ethic and vast knowledge of the inner workings of a football program will help us enhance what we do at Missouri State."
 
Mentzer was a student office assistant when the Coastal Carolina program began in 2002 and its first season of competition in 2003. She was also a part of the program's transition from FCS to FBS competition in 2016 after a successful run of seven Big South Conference championships, six FCS playoff appearances and 10 weeks ranked No. 1.
 
She was awarded the game ball for a win 2011 after taking over the equipment manager responsibilities for the last week of the season.
 
"I want to thank Coach Stec for this amazing opportunity," said Mentzer. "I'm really excited to join his staff at Missouri State and look forward to being able to contribute to the Bear program in a big way."
 
The native of Kenton, Ohio earned her degree in business management from Coastal Carolina in 2005.
 
Mentzer replaces Brenton Illum who left MSU for another opportunity in November.
 
Steckel also announced that Lucas Gant will serve as the program's new equipment manager.
 
He will serve in a full-time capacity after working as a student assistant on the MSU equipment staff since August. Gant, who begins his new role on Jan. 22, replaces Kaleb Daws who was recently hired as assistant equipment manager at the University of Nevada.
 
Both hires are contingent upon final approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.