MSU Athletics

Gunnard Twyner played wide receiver in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars from 1996-2000.

Twyner was an honorable mention All-American in 1994 as a wide receiver at Western Illinois, and he ranks top 10 in four separate career categories at Western Illinois.

Twyner played four seasons in the Arena Football League and set the league record for touchdown receptions (15) by a rookie with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2001. Twyner also played with the Buffalo/Columbus Destroyers.

The native of Davenport, Iowa, served as head coach at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2006 and 2007. He earned Maryland Coach of the Year honors in 2006 after leading his team to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

He participated in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Internship in 2009. From 2010-13, Twyner worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater—Western Illinois.

Western Illinois went from 1-10 in 2009 to 8-4 and the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2010. Twyner coached the wide receivers and assisted the offensive staff in creating weekly game plans.

Twyner was an assistant coach at Dodge City Community College for three seasons (2013-15) and an assistant at Lafayette College for two years (2017-18).

While at Dodge City, the Conquistadors were 19-11 after compiling a 6-54 record in the six seasons proceeding his arrival. During his three-year run, Twyner coached and recruited nine wide receivers that tallied a total of 15 Division I offers.

At Lafayette, Twyner was the wide receivers coach. He worked with Matt Mrazek, the second all-time leader in receptions for the Leopards. He also guided Rocco Palumbo, who tied for fourth in receptions among Patriot League receivers.

Twyner worked as an offensive quality control coach, working with wide receivers for the Indianapolis Colts before becoming the tight ends coach on Chris Wilkerson’s staff at Eastern Illinois in 2022.

Twyner is the proud father of two daughters -- Kelise (20) and Maleah (17).