Warren Messer returns to the Hilltop in 2025 as a graduate assistant on defense.
in 2024, Messer was a quality control analyst for linebackers at Indiana. He was a part of a Hoosier team that made the CFP for the first time in program history.
He previously spent the last two seasons as a defensive quality control assistant (2022-23) at SMU. Three defenders earned All-American Athletic Conference and a pair of Mustangs either signed as an undrafted free agent or received an invitation to rookie mini camps. The 2023 defense ranked top-15 nationally in nine defensive categories.
Messer tutored Cole Coleman (first team) and Tre’Von Jones (third team) to All-Coastal Athletic Association honors in one season as cornerbacks coach at Elon (2021).
Messer served as a graduate assistant for defense at Liberty (2020) and helped Anthony Butler and Storey Jackson earn All-Independent honors. The Flames won the 2020 Cure Bowl and finished top-25 nationally in total defense (317.7 ypg; No. 11).
He began his coaching journey as he inside linebackers coach at Leesville Road High School (2019) in Raleigh, North Carolina. He helped LRHS to a 13-1 record and coached a pair of all-league selections.
A four-year linebacker at Elon (2015-18), he finished his career No. 10 in Phoenix history with 318 tackles and tied for No. 2 with 13.0 sacks. He was a STATS FCS All-American in 2017 and 2018 and first Elon football player to earn first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association twice in a career.
Messer finished 10th in the final voting for the 2017 Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the country, and spent time in camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.
Messer earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Elon (2019).
