ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist University has named Marc Lillibridge as the Head Football Coach, Director of Athletics Jeff Fore announced on Thursday, Dec. 18.
 
Lillibridge brings more than two decades of experience spanning professional football, collegiate coaching, and player personnel evaluation. He takes the reins of the program after serving as linebackers coach at Missouri Baptist during the 2025 season.
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Lillibridge to Missouri Baptist University," said President Dr. Keith Ross. "He brings a combination of collegiate coaching experience, professional playing experience at the highest level, and a proven ability to lead and mentor young men. Most importantly, his vibrant Christian faith and commitment to developing student-athletes in mind, body, and spirit closely align with MBU's mission and values. We are confident he will make an immediate and lasting impact on our football program as well as our campus community."
 
"Coach Lillibridge's remarkable background as an NFL player, talent evaluator, and executive, combined with his outstanding leadership as our linebackers coach last season, makes him the ideal choice to lead our program," said Director of Athletics Jeff Fore. "Beyond his football expertise, Marc is deeply committed to developing young men of character and faith, guiding our student-athletes to excel not only on the field but also as men for Christ. We are confident that his passion for the game, strong values, and dedication to building a Christ-centered culture will inspire our team and elevate our program to new heights."
 
At Missouri Baptist, Lillibridge handled all linebacker position meetings and assisted with weekly defensive game planning. He coached the program's second-leading tackler in school history and helped guide two linebackers to Heart of America Athletic Conference Second Team honors.
 
Lillibridge most recently served as General Manager and Director of Player Personnel in the XFL/UFL from 2022-25. He was the Director of Player Personnel for the Houston Roughnecks during the 2023 XFL season, helping assemble a roster that won the South Division with a 7-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in divisional play. In 2024, following the merger of the XFL and USFL, he was named General Manager of the San Antonio Brahmas, leading the team to an XFL Division championship, a playoff victory, and a runner-up finish in the UFL Championship Game.
 
During his professional personnel career, Lillibridge drafted and signed complete rosters, built teams with minimal returning players, and oversaw all aspects of football operations. Twelve players from his XFL rosters returned to NFL training camps, with five earning spots on NFL practice squads.
 
Lillibridge also has extensive NFL front office experience, including roles with the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. As Assistant Director of Pro Personnel with Green Bay from 2000-05, he was part of a front office that posted a 48-20 regular-season record and won three consecutive NFC North Division championships. The Packers recorded the NFL's best regular-season record in 2002. He later served as a scouting consultant for the Chiefs during the 2005 season.
 
At the collegiate level, Lillibridge coached linebackers at Washington University in St. Louis from 2021–22, helping guide the Bears to a 7-3 record, a third-place conference finish, and a Division III bowl appearance.
 
A former NFL player, Lillibridge played from 1995 to 2000 with the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles, and with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football, where he racked up 72 tackles in 1997. He also played at Iowa State University, where he was a team captain, an All-Big Eight linebacker in 1994, and an Academic All-Big Eight selection.

"I am blessed to be selected as the head football coach of Missouri Baptist University," said Lillibridge. "I am encouraged to boldly proclaim my faith in Jesus while guiding the future leaders of this country on the gridiron. The lessons of accountability, faith, love, teamwork, and persistence will be preached daily. I relish the platform to turn Missouri Baptist football into a #KingdomCulture."

Lillibridge holds a Master of Business Administration from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a bachelor's degree in English from Iowa State University. He is a member of the Professional Football Writers Association and has served on the board of the National Football Foundation.