J. C. Harper
Encyclopedia
J. C. Harper is an American football
coach
. He currently serves as head coach
at Stephen F. Austin State University
in Nacogdoches, Texas
.
from 1985–88, while his father Tom Harper
served as defensive coordinator. Harper was a member of three Atlantic Coast Conference
championship teams and four bowl teams. Clemson also finished in the final top 20 of the AP poll in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Following the '09 campaign Harper was recognized for his efforts being named the SLC Coach of the Year, and finishing second by only two points for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award.
It was the first time in 10 years a Lumberjack squad had earned the SLC Championship trophy, and it was the program's first trip to the FCS playoffs since the 1995 season. Harper led SFA to double-digit wins for only the fourth time in school history, and the first time since its playoff run during the 1995 campaign. Throughout the course of the record-setting 2009 campaign, the 'Jacks recorded victories over three nationally ranked opponents, including two ranked among the nation's top 10.
The 2009 campaign saw 20 Lumberjacks named to the All-SLC teams, including five first-team selections. Along with the all-conference teams quarterback Jeremy Moses was named SLC Player of the Year, defensive end Tim Knicky was named defensive player of the year and corner back Andre Banks received league newcomer of the year honors. The accolades didn't stop at the conference level. Twelve Lumberjacks earned All-America recognition, including five first-team selections.
The Lumberjacks dominated the All-SLC teams, placing a league-best 21 players on the all-conference squad, including nine first-team selections. Among the nine first-teams selections five earned All-America honors. Following the season SLC Player of the Year Jeremy Moses was named the 2010 Walter Payton Award winner, becoming the first player in school and conference history to receive the player of the year award, which came on the heels of a season that saw him become the conference's all-time leading quarterback and set a new NCAA FCS record for completions.
Linebacker Jabara Williams became the second Lumberjack in the past three years to be drafted when he was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. It marked the third consecutive season that SFA has had a player either be drafted or sign a contract with an NFL franchise.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He currently serves as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
at Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
in Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
.
Playing career
Harper played defensive tackle at Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1985–88, while his father Tom Harper
Tom Harper
Tom Harper is the name of:* Tom Harper , former coach of the Wake Forest college football program* Tom Harper * Tom Harper, pseudonym for novelist Edwin Thomas*Tommy Harper, baseball player*Tom Harper, film director-See also:...
served as defensive coordinator. Harper was a member of three Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
championship teams and four bowl teams. Clemson also finished in the final top 20 of the AP poll in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Coaching career
J. C. Harper was promoted to Head Coach of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks from his position as defensive coordinator in December 2006. He was the third head coach in four seasons. Starting from scratch, Harper led the Lumberjacks to a Southland Conference (SLC) championship in just his third season and then repeated as SLC champions in his fourth season. It was the first back-to-back championships in school history.2009 Season
The 2009 season saw the program's first conference title in 10 years, a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs and a top-10 national ranking. It was the second-biggest single-season turnaround at the NCAA FCS level, and the fourth-best turnaround at the NCAA Division I level.Following the '09 campaign Harper was recognized for his efforts being named the SLC Coach of the Year, and finishing second by only two points for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award.
It was the first time in 10 years a Lumberjack squad had earned the SLC Championship trophy, and it was the program's first trip to the FCS playoffs since the 1995 season. Harper led SFA to double-digit wins for only the fourth time in school history, and the first time since its playoff run during the 1995 campaign. Throughout the course of the record-setting 2009 campaign, the 'Jacks recorded victories over three nationally ranked opponents, including two ranked among the nation's top 10.
The 2009 campaign saw 20 Lumberjacks named to the All-SLC teams, including five first-team selections. Along with the all-conference teams quarterback Jeremy Moses was named SLC Player of the Year, defensive end Tim Knicky was named defensive player of the year and corner back Andre Banks received league newcomer of the year honors. The accolades didn't stop at the conference level. Twelve Lumberjacks earned All-America recognition, including five first-team selections.
2010 Season
The 2010 season brought more of the same. The Lumberjacks posted a 9-3 (.750) overall record and won their second-straight Southland Conference title in 2010. It marked the first time in conference history that SFA has won back-to-back conference titles. The 'Jacks recorded their second-straight top-10 national ranking, and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs for a second consecutive season where they hosted Villanova. It was also the second-straight year that SFA led the nation in passing.The Lumberjacks dominated the All-SLC teams, placing a league-best 21 players on the all-conference squad, including nine first-team selections. Among the nine first-teams selections five earned All-America honors. Following the season SLC Player of the Year Jeremy Moses was named the 2010 Walter Payton Award winner, becoming the first player in school and conference history to receive the player of the year award, which came on the heels of a season that saw him become the conference's all-time leading quarterback and set a new NCAA FCS record for completions.
Linebacker Jabara Williams became the second Lumberjack in the past three years to be drafted when he was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. It marked the third consecutive season that SFA has had a player either be drafted or sign a contract with an NFL franchise.
Accomplishments
- Southland Conference Coach of the Year
- 2009, 2010.
- Regular Season Titles
- 2009, 2010
- FCS Championship Playoffs Appearances
- 2009, 2010