Michael Lindauer promoted to quarterbacks coach

CARBONDALE, Ill. — From record-setting quarterback to graduate assistant, and now a promotion to quarterbacks coach, Michael Lindauer's career at Southern Illinois is on the fast track.

“He earned and deserves this opportunity,” said SIU head coach Nick Hill. “We work well together, and he’s got a great rapport with the players. I'm excited to give him his first full-time job.”

Lindauer, 25, will guide a quarterbacks room that features All-American DJ Williams, plus returnees Jake Curry, ET Harris, JC Mirasola and Owen Rann.

“Coach Hill is a role model to me, and for him to have the faith in me that I'm knowledgeable to help these guys out means a ton to me,” Lindauer said. “With Coach Hill being the offensive coordinator, obviously, he's with the quarterbacks every day, so it's not going to be a solo show. But with the two of us working together, he can be the overseer of everything, and then I can help the guys out with mechanics and progressions during the times he’s focused on the bigger picture.”

An Evansville, Ind. native, Lindauer was a prolific quarterback at Reitz Memorial High School, who then spent two seasons at Cincinnati (2019-20) before transferring to Southern in 2021.

Lindauer set a school record with seven TD passes in his only career start vs. Murray State in 2024.

Lindauer battled a shoulder injury during his career at SIU and “retired” from football to become a GA for the program in 2024, only to be pressed back into active duty when the team lost its top three quarterbacks to injury that season.

Lindauer played the last four games of the 2024 campaign and started the season-finale versus Murray State. In his only collegiate start, he completed 20-of-33 passes for 283 yards, with a school-record seven TDs and no interceptions, earning MVFC Player of the Week honors.

In 2025, Lindauer was an integral part of a staff that produced one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses. The Salukis averaged 36.4 points and 446.8 yards per game and had the No. 1-ranked red zone offense in the FCS, converting 95 percent of its possessions inside the 20 into points.

Lindauer replaces Ryan McVicker, who left in December to join his father, Marty McVicker, on the staff at Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colo.

“I’m excited for Ryan, also, because he’s getting to go back home,” Hill said. “He did an incredible job for us for eight seasons and we're gonna miss him.”