December 13, 2022 marked the beginning of a new era for HCU football with the introduction of Braxton Harris as the second head coach in the program鈥檚 history.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be more excited and we are ready to hit the ground running at HCU,鈥� Harris said when introduced as the Huskies鈥� head coach. 鈥淲e are excited for the opportunity to be back in the state of Texas at a faith-based university that doesn鈥檛 just talk about it 鈥� they live it. We were looking for a place that not only has football, but a place to grow in faith and family 鈥� everything we wanted 鈥� and HCU is a great opportunity for that.鈥�
鈥淲e are committed to winning,鈥� Harris continued. 鈥淲e are going to say it over and over, we are not only going to do it right, but we can do it while winning.鈥�
鈥淏raxton Harris is a great fit for 九色视频,鈥� President Robert B. Sloan said. 鈥淲e welcome him, his wife, Jennifer, and their four children to the HCU family. His record of achievement with respect to building successful programs, combined with his love of young people, as reflected in his ability to recruit players and lead them to success, both academically and competitively, give the Huskies a promising future.鈥�
Harris, 38, spent three seasons at Campbell, including this past season as the Associate Head Coach, Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. During the December 2021 Early Signing Period, the Camels landed the top freshman class in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) according to Lights On College Sports, signing three of the nation鈥檚 top 10 recruits.聽Campbell placed a program-record 12 student-athletes on the All-Big South teams last season, including linebacker CJ Tillman. Safety Myles Rowser was named to the Bluebloods Freshman All-American Team.
In his first season at Campbell, Harris helped the Camels rank fourth in the FCS in takeaways (25) and defensive touchdowns (4). Tillman earned Freshman All-American honors and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award given to the top freshman in the FCS.
Prior to Campbell, Harris was the head coach at Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas, from 2017-19. He led the Yellow Jackets to a 5-5 record in his final season, posting the program鈥檚 most overall wins and conference wins (4) since 2006.
He also spent time as the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Texas Lutheran from 2013-16, helping guide a previously 0-10 program to a 25-5 record over three years and three consecutive conference championships. He originally joined the TLU staff in 2011 as the defensive ends and linebackers coach, as well as special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Harris was the safeties coach at Waco High School for one year, after beginning his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, in Belton, Texas, from 2006-2009.聽He played quarterback for UMHB from 2003 to 2005 and was a member of the Crusaders鈥� 2004 NCAA Division III National Championship finalist team.
Upon his hiring, Harris quickly set about assembling a coaching staff with strong Texas ties. After getting his primary staff in place, the staff had less than a month to go until national signing day on Feb. 1. In less than a month, the Huskies had put together the top recruiting class in program history and a class ranked No. 10 nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), first among all Texas FCS schools and first among all Southland Conference schools.
鈥淲e targeted Coach Harris from the start,鈥� Director of Athletics Steve Moniaci said. 鈥淲e were looking for someone who will energize the football program and someone with strong Houston and Texas ties to recruit at an elite level. Our talent pool during the search was tremendous, as we visited with some great coaches, but in the end, we came back to where we started and feel Coach Harris is the best fit for HCU.鈥�
From there, the Huskies have added more than 25 transfers from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and FCS programs and junior colleges, adding experience to the roster.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the fourth largest city in the United States,鈥� said Harris. 鈥淭he greatest football is in Houston, Texas. You can drive 10 minutes from our campus and hit three football games with Division-I caliber athletes. We brought back at least 20 Houston kids who are transfers and are coming back home and then at least another 10 are from the state of Texas.鈥�
Spring practices gave Harris his first opportunity to see his returning players, and a handful of newcomers, in action on the field.
鈥淪pring was a lot of fun. It was good to see the coaching staff mix with our players,鈥� Harris added. 鈥淲e were fortunate, we already had a solid group of players on campus, and we believe in those guys. It was neat to see those guys continue to believe and to build trust with our coaching staff.鈥�
Much like the beloved sign from TV show, Ted Lasso, 鈥淏ELIEVE鈥� is a word that holds resonance for Harris as a leader of the HCU football program. He stresses the need for the coaches and team to believe in their mission and their abilities as a group. Additionally, he knows the importance of not only talking the talk, but walking the walk.
鈥淵ou have to do what you say you鈥檙e going to do. When I walked into a room with these guys on December 13, I told them my plan to be successful. I鈥檝e asked them throughout my time so far, how are we doing? We have a leadership council that meets with me weekly and they help hold me accountable.鈥�
Harris and the Huskies kicked off the 2023 football season with a win 66-0 over Arkansas Baptist in the team鈥檚 opening home game.