Jon Eastman is in his third season as an assistant coach on the Lindenwood football team in 2019. He is serving as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
In his second season, Eastman helped the offensive production increase from a season ago, scoring 28.8 points per game. The Lindenwood offense ranked in the top-25 in the nation with an 85.7 percent success rate in the red zone. The Lions scored 41 points or more in three-straight games, including a 51-point effort against Missouri Southern. Lindenwood capped off the year with a wild 21-point fourth-quarter comeback victory over Missouri Western. The Lions scored with less than two minutes left in the game on an 11-play 99-yard drive. Lindenwood recovered the ensuing onside kick, and drove down to score the game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game.
Eastman played a key part in the success of first-year quarterback Cade Brister. Brister was named honorable-mention all-MIAA, as he ranked second in the MIAA and 34th in the nation in both passing yards (2,433) and touchdown passes (21). Brister threw a touchdown pass in every game in 2018, including five touchdown passes against Emporia State. The redshirt freshman also rushed for 549 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Brister ran 588 plays, the most in school history by more than 130 plays. Brister was responsible for 27 touchdowns, ranking right behind two of the greatest quarterbacks in program history (Philip Staback and Ben Kisner). The 2,982 total yards by Brister ranks fourth in school history, and was the most yards gained since the 2010 season. Brister averaged 20.6 completions per game and had just two percent of his passes intercepted, both second in the record books.
In his first season at Lindenwood, Eastman led the development of first-year quarterback Najee Jackson. In just one season, Lindenwood’s passing offense jumped from last in the conference to seventh, and it improved from tenth to fifth in yards per attempt. The improved quarterback play helped Lindenwood average its most points since the 2012 season. Under Eastman’s tutelage, Jackson was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection, and the team’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Eastman came to Lindenwood from the University of Sioux Falls, where he was an assistant coach from 2012 to 2016. He was the team’s quarterbacks coach for three years, and also coached the offensive line (2013) and tight ends (2012).
While Eastman was the quarterbacks coach at Sioux Falls, the Cougars averaged 40.3 points, 250.1 passing yards, and 489.5 yards of total offense a game. Sioux Falls went 32-5 in that span, appeared in the postseason all three years, won the 2016 NSIC Championship, and won its first NCAA Tournament game in 2016. Sioux Falls finished in the top-20 in the nation in scoring offense all three seasons.
Eastman played a big role in the development of quarterback Luke Papilion who was the Sioux Falls quarterback from 2013-2016. Papilion was an all-conference performer every year under Eastman, including being the 2014 NSIC Offensive Player of the Year, and was a two-time candidate for the Harlon Hill Award. In those three seasons, Papilion threw for 8,286 yards and rushed for 2,645 more yards. He had 73 passing touchdowns and 60 rushing scores in that span.
Eastman finished his collegiate playing career at Sioux Falls in 2010. He led the Cougars to their third straight NAIA National Championship. Eastman was a first-team all-conference player, and an All-American selection. He threw for 3,465 yards and 45 touchdowns that season, and completed 65.1 percent of his passes. Sioux Falls averaged 41.2 points a game that year and went 13-1 on their way to the national title.
Eastman started his college career at Snow College. In 2008, he helped the team advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship game. Despite missing much of the season with an injury, he still threw for 804 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2007, Eastman appeared in seven games and threw for 1,647 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Eastman played at Colorado State University in 2009. He appeared in six games and threw for 494 yards and two touchdowns.
Eastman received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and public accounting from Sioux Falls in 2011.
Jon is married to his wife, Jaygan.
