Marcus Yokeley is in his sixth season on the Lindenwood football coaching staff, including his third year since returning for a second stint in 2012. He was named the team’s Assistant Head Coach in 2013, and is the defensive line position coach, specifically working with the defensive tackles.
Two Lindenwood defensive lineman earned All-MIAA honors last year, including freshman defensive tackle DeShawn Lawson. Lawson was an honorable mention pick after finishing second on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss. Chris Floyd was named the team's Top Defensive Big Man after having 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
In 2012, Lindenwood’s defensive tackles played a big role in Lindenwood recording 29 sacks and 85 tackles for loss. Leading the way was Malach Radigan who earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors. Radigan also won the prestigious AFCA Good Works Team award for his work away from the field. Lindenwood’s top three defensive tackles of Radigan, Chris Floyd, and Chaz Fulton combined for 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Yokeley previously worked at Lindenwood from 2006-08. After one season as a graduate assistant, Yokeley was named a full-time assistant in 2007. He severed numerous roles on the staff, including special teams coordinator, defensive secondary coach, and assistant head coach in his final season.
In his two years as a full-time assistant, Lindenwood went 21-4 and advanced to the NAIA playoffs in both seasons. Yokeley helped the Lions win the 2007 HAAC Championship, and win the first two playoff games in school history in 2008.
Yokeley coached seven players to All-HAAC honors during his first three seasons on the Lindenwood staff. Among those players was Brandon Gould who would set Lindenwood’s career interception record.
Yokeley spent the 2011 season as the defensive coordinator at Avila. The Eagles lowered their scoring defense by nearly 10 points a game in just a single season under him. Avila doubled their win total from 2010 from two to four. Yokeley coached defensive backs, including the school’s first and only All-American safety, Tyler Cardwell.
For the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Yokeley worked on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football for the Missouri Tigers. As a graduate assistant, his time was spent coordinating camps, breaking down and evaluating film, compiling reports, and running the weekly opponent scout team. He helped the quarterback, linebacker, and wide receiver positions over his tenure with the staff.
During his playing days, Yokeley was a defensive back at Truman State. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors and was a two-time team captain. In his prep days, he earned first-team all-state defensive back honors in 2002 at Marshall High School.
Yokeley earned his undergraduate degree from Truman State in psychology and his masters from Lindenwood University in education.
