Shawn Weigel enters into his second year as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator of the Hendrix football program in 2026. Weigel also serves as the head coach of the men's and women's track and field programs.
In his first year at Hendrix, Weigel helped guide cornerback Ryan Maxwell to an AFCA All-American selection. Maxwell became the first Warrior since Adonnis Butler to earn All-American honors. As a unit, the Hendrix defense accounted for 21 takeaways, including 9 interceptions.
Weigel came to Conway after a four-year stint as the head football coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Prior to being promoted to head coach, he spent nine seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Cardinals.
In his time at William Jewell, Weigel produced 20 All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers, including three first-team selections, and 105 Academic All-GLVC selections. The Cardinals also had 14 GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award winners during his head coaching tenure.
In addition to his time at William Jewell, Weigel served as the defensive coordinator at Colorado School of Mines and was instrumental in helping the Orediggers record their first seven win season in more than three decades. Prior to Mines, he spent time as the defensive secondary coach at West Texas A&M. While with the Buffaloes, he tutored Kareem Larimer, a future fourth round pick in the NFL draft. Weigel's college coaching experience has also included a stint at Austin College, while he also served as the head coach for the Seinajoki Crocodiles in the European Football League.
In 1998, Weigel was named the American Southwest Conference women's track and field coach of the year.
Weigel is a 1991 graduate of Doane College, where he was a team captain and an All-State College team selection as a return specialist. In 1991, he led the nation in punt return average and returned three kicks for touchdowns. That same year, Weigel collected Indoor Track and Field All-American honors in the high hurdles. He was also a national qualifier in the 400m IM hurdles, 4x100m relay, triple jump, and the 4x400m relay.
A native of McCook, Neb., Weigel holds a bachelor's degree in sociology, sports management and physical education from Doane as well as a master's degree from East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M - Commerce). He and his wife Buffey reside in Conway with their daughter, Lainee Jo, and their stepdaughter, Mallory.
