JONESBORO, Ark. (12/29/25) – Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones announced Monday that Ben Armer has been named the Director of Athletic Performance for football.
 
“Coach Armer has proven to be a great teacher, effective communicator, and developer of the traits that is needed in the weight room that transfers over to the football field,” said Jones. “His mentorship and energy will elevate our team and continue a culture of development within our program.
 
Armer joins the Red Wolves after two seasons as the Associate Director of Sports Performance/Head of Football Applied Sports Science role at Duke. He oversaw the implementation and use of all sports science data with the director of sports performance and helped the Blue Devils to the 2025 ACC Championship, the first outright title for the program since 1962.
 
Armer assisted in planning of all off-season and in-season training in preparations for the 2024 and 2025 football seasons and oversaw all off-season and in-season return-to-play protocols for injured athletes. During his time in Durham, student-athletes had over 100 speed personal-bests along with over 140 new squad, power clean, and/or bench press personal-bests during in-season periods.
 
Prior to his time at Duke, Armer had an eight-year tenure as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for football at Ball State University. With the Cardinals, he planned, organized, and implemented all aspects of the Ball State football strength and conditioning program. He helped the program to a 2020 conference title, the first for the program since 1996, and a 2020 Arizona Bowl victory, the first bowl win in program history. He assisted in the development of over 25 players that earned opportunities in the National Football League.
 
His prior experience at the collegiate level included stints at Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio).
 
A native of Jamesville, Wis., Armer lettered four seasons in football as a punter at Western Michigan, twice earning All-Mid-American Conference honors. He finished his career with a 40.4 yards per punt average with 35 punts of 50-plus yards and exited the program ranking among the school’s top five leaders in punt average.
 
Armer graduated from Western Michigan in 2012 with a degree in exercise science. He later earned a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotions with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention from Pennsylvania Western University in 2022.
 
Armer and his wife, Crystal, have four children: Lincoln, Owen, Adeline and Amelia.
 
The Armer File
Hometown: Jamesville, Wis.
High School: Parker HS
College: Western Michigan (2012)
Family: Wife, Crystal, Sons, Lincoln and Owen, Daughters, Adeline and Amelia.
 
Playing Experience
2007-11 | Western Michigan (punter)

Coaching Career
2013 | Western Michigan – Strength and Conditioning Intern
2014 | Ball State – Graduate Assistant for Strength and Conditioning
2015 | Miami (Ohio) – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2016-23 | Ball State – Director of Strength and Conditioning
2024-25 | Duke – Associate Director of Sports Performance/Head of Football Applied Sports Science