UTPB Athletics

Rob Messinger enters his fourth season as UT Permian Basin as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator.   Now Messinger also takes over the offense as well.
 
Falcon special teams were strong once again in 2021.  Carson Roberts was named to the All-LSC Second Team.  The Odessa native was second in the LSC with 1,789 punting yards and an average of 39.8 yards per punt.  He led the league with 12 fair caught punts and had seven of over 50 yards on the season.  The unit was also 37-for-38 on PAT attempts.
 
The receivers had a huge season.  MJ Link was an All-LSC First Team honoree after setting the program records with eight touchdown receptions and 628 receiving yards.  
 
Both of Messinger’s position groups were fantastic in the spring of 2021.  The trio of MJ Link, Kobe Robinson, and Baylon Ware was dynamic.  Link had five touchdown receptions to lead the way and tied an NCAA record with a 99-yard touchdown reception.  Robinson set the program record with 256 all purpose yards and three touchdowns in week two against Lincoln (Mo.).  He also became the first Falcon to return a kick-off for a touchdown in that game.  In the final game of the season, Robinson caught the game-winning two-point conversion from Thomas.  Ware was a big play machine, averaging 21.5 yards per reception.  
 
Special Teams were rock solid once again.  Hayden Decossas converted 16-of-18 extra point attempts while Sergio Landeros had six punts land inside the 20.  The Falcons blocked five kicks, all by Jacques Tyler.  Two of the blocks were returned for a score, with Martin Brown returning a punt in week two against Lincoln (Mo.), and Trent Ward returning a blocked extra point for a two-point conversion against Western New Mexico.
 
The Falcon receivers had a big year in 2019.  Kyle McBride set the program single-season record with 49 receptions for 672 yards and five touchdowns, finishing just one yard behind the single-season record.  The senior was named All-Conference Honorable Mention after the season.  Kobe Robinson had an impressive first season on campus with 31 catches for 351 yards and four touchdowns while freshman Jeremiah Cooley took over late in the year to finish with 23 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Falcon special teams had a rebound season in 2019 as well.  Punter Sergio Landeros was named All-Conference First Team after leading the Lone Star Conference in punting yards and average yards per punt.  Freshman kicker Hayden Decossas made six field goals but was terrific on extra points hitting 35-of-37 attempts.  Ben Galaviz was named national Special Teams Player of the Week in the Falcons 48-38 win over Eastern New Mexico with two fumble recoveries on special teams while averaging over 27 yards on returns.
 
Messinger joined the Falcons after five seasons at Northeastern State University.  Prior to Northeastern State, Messinger spent the 2013 season as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ottawa University in Kansas. He also coached at Ottawa from 2006-08, serving as the junior varsity head coach and offensive coordinator.
 
Messinger worked from 2010-12 at the University of Miami (FL). He was the coordinator of football operations from 2011-12 and was a volunteer assistant in 2010.  Before that he served as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Washburn University from 2008-11.
 
The Topeka, Kansas native received a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from the University of Kansas in 2005, where he also played defensive back. He went on to earn a Master of Education degree from Washburn in 2010.