HOUSTON – Rob Meyers, a 1997 graduate from Stephen F. Austin, was named the 2026 recipient of the Louis Bonnette Media Award, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon ahead of the 2026 Southland Football Opening Drive.
Meyers has promoted the Southland Conference and the SFA Lumberjacks for three decades, first as a member of the media. He was hired by the university in August 1997 following his graduation to take over the sports information department. Meyers continued in his work with SFA athletics after being promoted to Associate AD for Business
Despite the promotion he continued to cover SFA athletics as the Voice of Lumberjack football and men's basketball, handling the play-by-play for both radio and ESPN+ (and some ESPN3) broadcasts. Following the 2024-25 season, Meyers moved behind the mic for the Lumberjacks' ESPN+ broadcasts.
"Congratulations to Rob Meyers on this incredibly well-deserved recognition," SFA Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael McBroom said. "I also want to commend the Southland Conference for selecting Rob, who has represented Stephen F. Austin with distinction and who brings passion, preparation and professionalism to every broadcast.
"He is one of the very best in our industry, and his dedication to telling the stories of our student-athletes and coaches continues to make an impact across the conference. We are proud to see Rob honored with the Louis Bonnette Award and grateful for the outstanding work he has done on behalf of SFA and the Southland Conference."
Meyers continued to handle the radio play-by-play even after his retirement from the university in spring of 2025. In addition to this, Meyers has served as host of several sports-related radio and television shows in the Nacogdoches area promoting SFA athletics.
Meyers has been behind the mic for several big calls for SFA, most notably when the Lumberjacks shocked the college basketball world and upset No. 1 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2019. He also had the call of SFA's dramatic overtime win over No. 5 VCU in the 2014 NCAA Tournament along with the Lumberjacks' trouncing of No. 3 West Virginia in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
The Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award is presented annually to an individual that has made an oustanding contribution in the field of print journalism, broadcasting sports information or other media focused on the Southland Conference and its member institutions.
The Southland's sports information directors, athletic directors or other university personnel and outside media executives may nominate worthy individuals for the honor. The institutional SIDs serve as the selection panel.