Braxton Harris (born April 25, 1984)[1] is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach for the Campbell Fighting Camels of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). He played as a quarterback at Mary Hardin–Baylor and later served as a coach there, at Waco High School, Texas Lutheran, Howard Payne, linebackers coach at Campbell and Houston Christian[2] before receiving the head job at Campbell in 2024.
Early life and education
Born April 25, 1984,[2] Harris attended Mexia High School where he was an all-district quarterback and led his team to the regional semifinals as a junior.[3] At Mexia, he played under his father Craig, who was the head coach.[4] Harris played college football for the Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders from 2003 to 2005, being a member of their 2004 national championship finalist team.[5] He graduated from the school in 2008 with a bachelor of science degree in education, later receiving a master's degree in education administration the following year.[5]
Coaching career
After serving 2006 as a student assistant at Mary Hardin–Baylor, Harris became the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for the team in 2007, where he served through 2009.[6][7] He helped them win the conference championship four times, and reach as far as the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in 2006.[7] He left to become the safeties coach at Waco High School in 2010, serving in that position for only one season.[5]
Harris began coaching at the Division III school Texas Lutheran in 2011, spending his first season as defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator.[7] The next season, he remained recruiting coordinator but switched to linebackers coach.[7] He began serving as assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, and co-defensive coordinator in 2013, while retaining his roles as recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach.[7] Harris helped them win the conference championship in 2013, while coaching a defense that contributed to Texas Lutheran's placement of sixth nationally in the category of turnover margin.[7]
Harris became head coach of the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets in 2017, and posted a record of 1–9 in his first year, while the team allowed an average of 56 points per game.[8] The Yellow Jackets again won only one game in 2018, but the following season Harris led them to a 5–5 mark, the best record the team had posted since 2006.[9] He announced his resignation in December 2020, after three years with the school, prior to their postponed 2020–21 season.[9][10] Harris compiled an overall record of 7–23 at Howard Payne.[10]
In 2021, Harris began serving as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for the Division I FCS Campbell Fighting Camels.[11] He added the position of assistant head coach in his second season.[11] After the 2022 season, he was named the head coach of the Houston Christian Huskies.[12]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Payne Yellow Jackets (American Southwest Conference) (2017–2019) | |||||||||
| 2017 | Howard Payne | 1–9 | 1–8 | T–9th | |||||
| 2018 | Howard Payne | 1–9 | 1–8 | T–9th | |||||
| 2019 | Howard Payne | 5–5 | 4–5 | 5th | |||||
| Howard Payne: | 7–23 | 6–21 | |||||||
| Houston Christian Huskies (Southland Conference) (2023–present) | |||||||||
| 2023 | Houston Christian | 5–5 | 4–3 | 4th | |||||
| Houston Christian: | 5–5 | 4–3 | |||||||
| Campbell Fighting Camels (Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference) (2024–present) | |||||||||
| 2024 | Campbell | 3–9 | 1–7 | 14th | |||||
| Campbell: | 3–9 | 1–7 | |||||||
| Total: | 15–37 | ||||||||
References
- ^ "Campbell names Braxton Harris head football coach". gocamels.com. Campbell University Athletics. January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Dean, Richard (December 13, 2022). "Houston Christian hires Braxton Harris as football coach". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ "Braxton Harris – Mexia – QB". Tyler Morning Telegraph. August 29, 2002. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former Mexia, UMHB player Braxton Harris lands head job at Houston Christian". Waco Tribune-Herald. December 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Braxton Harris". Houston Christian Huskies.
- ^ "Inside the Headset: Braxton Harris". AFCA Insider. April 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Braxton Harris". Texas Lutheran Bulldogs. July 9, 2015 – via Texas High School Football Chat.
- ^ Irish, Jim (February 26, 2018). "Eagles trio signs to play at Howard Payne". Austin American-Statesman.
- ^ a b Jeyarajah, Shehan (December 21, 2020). "D-III Howard Payne coach Braxton Harris leaves program after three years". Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
- ^ a b Stuckley, Derrick (December 23, 2020). "Former HPU football coach Braxton Harris bids farewell to community". Brownwood News.
- ^ a b "Braxton Harris". Campbell Fighting Camels.
- ^ Hogue, Cory (December 13, 2022). "HCU to name Braxton Harris head coach". Dave Campbell's Texas Football.