Justin Kramer begins his fourth year on the Missouri State coaching staff working with the Bears tight ends and special teams.
Under Kramer's direction, MSU's special teams have been some of the most consistent units in the Missouri Valley Football Conference since his arrival on campus. In particular, the Bears ranked among the Valley's top three units in kickoff return average (22.2), punt return average (13.0), punt average (41.0) and field goals made per game (1.09) last season.
Individually, Kramer has helped mentor three different All-MVFC performers during his tenure in Springfield. Tight end Erik Furmanek enjoyed a breakout year in 2016, hauling in 27 pass receptions and four of the six touchdowns caught by MSU tight ends to earn second-team All-MVFC honors. Additionally, Holliman was one of the most dangerous return specialists in the nation over the last three seasons, garnering first-team all-Valley laurels each year.
In his first season at MSU, Kramer’s special teams featured a pair of All-MVFC performers in Holliman and punter Chris Sullens. Holliman led the nation in combined kick return yardage (1,233), while Sullens shattered MVFC single-season marks for total punt yardage (3,771) and downed 25 punts inside the 20-yard line.
The native of Liberty, Mo., was a four-year letterman at Southern Illinois from 2002-05 where the standout offensive lineman was part of three Saluki NCAA playoff teams and three Missouri Valley Football Conference titles. He later spent 2008-12 as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State before joining Gary Pinkel’s staff at Missouri, where he worked with head coach Dave Steckel in shaping one of the SEC’s top defensive units.
Kramer was a key defensive analyst for the Tigers and also served as the assistant director of recruiting during his tenure at Missouri. In that role, he helped oversee scouting and assisted the staff with scripting and practice planning. He also helped coordinate Mizzou Football Camps.
At SEMO, Kramer coached four first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference offensive linemen. He also mentored three All-Americans, including Sean Middleton, the FCS Rimington Award winner. Kramer's offensive line paved the way for the nation's No. 3 rushing offense in 2010, giving up an FCS-best six sacks for the season.
Kramer initially joined the Southeast coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2006, where he worked with the defensive line. He also served as director of football operations for a year and a half under head coach Tony Samuel.
Kramer and his wife, Killian,have one daughter, Leyna, and a son, Vince.
