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coach, player

Matt Meyer

Two-way lineman on the 2003–04 title team and the 2003–04 Lineman of the Year, who graduated in 2006. He went on to win seven national championships with the London Olympians and London Blitz and a European cup in 2011, won a record 17 GB Lions caps, including the 2005 European Championships in Malmö, and played and coached in the Austrian Football League. He coached the Hurricanes’ offensive line from 2005–06 and became offensive coordinator. He was inducted into the British American Football Hall of Fame as a player (Class of 2023).

Matt Meyer: feature

British American Football Hall of Fame
Class of 2023[1][2]
inducted as a player
GB Lions caps
17[2][3]
the appearance record, as stated at his Hall of Fame induction
Hurricanes Lineman of the Year
2003–04[4][5]
playing on both offensive and defensive line
Britbowl champion
7 times[2][6]
with the London Olympians and London Blitz

Career with the Hurricanes

  1. 2001–02

    Started playing for the Hurricanes.[5][2]

  2. 2002–03

    Named offensive MVP from the offensive line in a 13–0 home win over Nottingham Outlaws, and one of a record 12 Hurricanes selected for the Southern Conference Wildcats all-star team. The club’s history credited Andy Cochrane’s running that season to the blocking of a line that included Meyer, Sol Rogers and Owen Powis, as the team reached College Bowl XVII.[7][8][5]

  3. 2003–04

    Hurricanes Lineman of the Year, playing both ways. The 8–0 team won College Bowl XVIII 27–6 against Staffordshire Stallions for the club’s fourth national title.[4][5][2]

  4. 2004–05

    A fourth season on the roster. Over his four years the team won three divisional titles, two conference titles and one College Bowl.[9][5]

  5. 2005–06

    Joined the coaching staff as assistant offensive line coach.[5]

  6. 2007–08

    Offensive line coach for an unbeaten regular season.[10]

  7. 2012–13

    In his second year as offensive coordinator and sixth coaching with the team, still also coaching the offensive line. The Hurricanes won the South Eastern Conference and reached a second national final in a row.[11][6][12][13]

Beyond the Hurricanes

  • London Blitz · from 2002; again from 2008[5][2]
  • London Olympians, including the 2004 EFAF Cup run · five seasons from 2003[5][4][2]
  • Carinthian Lions, Austria; played and coached in the Austrian Football League[2][6]
  • GB Bulldogs, San Francisco tour · 2004[5][14]
  • GB Lions, including the European Championships in Malmö (2005) and Frankfurt (2010)[5][15][2]
  • European cup winner · 2011[6][2]

Sources for this feature

  1. BAFA, "BAFA Hall of Fame" (inductees by class, to the Class of 2025)
  2. BAFA, "Hall of Fame class of 2023 saluted" (7 Jul 2024)
  3. Matt Coppinger, club founder, in conversation 2026-10-22
  4. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2003–04 season
  5. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2005–06 coaching staff
  6. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff (c. 2014)
  7. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2002–03 season
  8. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): History (2005)
  9. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2004/05 registered roster
  10. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2007–08 team info
  11. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff, 25 Mar 2013 capture (2012–13 staff text)
  12. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): "SEC Champions Again" (2012–13)
  13. Wikipedia: British Universities American Football League (finals list and standings; also British Collegiate American Football League)
  14. Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2004/05 season page (club colours awards)
  15. BAFA, "GB Lions Announce European Championship squad" (2010 European Championships, Frankfurt; Wayback Machine)

Honours

National Hall of Fame

  • British American Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2023 (Player)

Great Britain selection

  • GB Bulldogs (San Francisco tour, 2004)
  • GB Lions, 2005 European Championships (Malmö)

Other honours

Sources (7)

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