Braxton Harris was named the second head football coach in the school’s history on Dec. 13, 2022, returning to his native Texas after three years at Campbell University in North Carolina.
“Braxton Harris is a great fit for Houston Christian University,” Sloan said. “We 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.”
“We had targeted Coach Harris from the start,” Moniaci said. “We 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.”
Harris, 38, spent two 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’s top 10 recruits. Campbell placed a program-record 12 student-athletes on the All-Big South teams this season, including linebacker CJ Tillman. Safety Myles Rowser was named to the Bluebloods Freshman All-America Team.
“We couldn’t be more excited and we are ready to hit the ground running at HCU,” Harris said. “We are excited for the opportunity to be back in the state of Texas at a faith-based university that doesn’t just talk about – they live it. We were looking for a place that not only has football, but a place to grow in faith and family – everything we wanted – and HCU is a great opportunity for that.
“We are committed to winning,” Harris continued. “We are going to say it over and over, we are not only going to do it right, but we can do it while winning.”
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-America 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’s most overall wins and conference wins (4) since 2006.
Harris was the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Texas Lutheran in Seguin, Texas, from 2013-16. He helped guide a previously 0-10 program to a 25-5 record over three years and three consecutive conference championships (2013, 2014, 2015). 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. He played quarterback for UMHB from 2003 to 2005 and was a member of the Crusaders’ 2004 NCAA Division III National Championship finalist team.
A Mexia, Texas, native, Harris graduated from UMHB with a bachelor of science degree in education in 2008, then earned a Master’s in education administration in 2009.
Harris and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons, Brooks, Fisher and Cooper, and a daughter, Cate.
