David Mertens joined the Southeastern football coaching staff prior to the 2024 season as the director of player personnel and was named the program’s first general manager in 2025.
Mertens leads the evaluation of the Lions’ current roster and future prospects. He also assists with team travel arrangements and coordinating the program’s operating budget.
Mertens organizes all aspects of the team’s fall camp and also serve as the liaison with the professional leagues, helping to facilitate the current Lions’ goals of reaching the NFL, CFL, UFL and European Football League.
Mertens also oversees the program’s community service efforts, as SLU Football continues to adhere to Southeastern Athletics’ expectations of excellence in the community, in the classroom and in competition.
Prior to his time in Hammond, Mertens spent three seasons on the staff at Southland Conference member Lamar. During his time with the Cardinals, he served in a variety of capacities, including coaching tight ends and serving as assistant running backs coach, while also serving as director of operations, academic coordinator and equipment manager.
Before his time in Beaumont, he served a season as a graduate assistant coach working with the defensive lineman at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Mertens began his coaching career at Howard Payne, working with the team’s linebackers, while also serve as assistant academic coordinator and community service coordinator.
A 2017 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Mertens earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, before earning a master’s in education from Lamar in 2021.
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