Above photo of Braxton Harris courtesy of Houston Christian University Athletics
BUIES CREEK, North Carolina–UMHB alum Braxton Harris, who led Houston Christian Football to new heights in 2023, has been named the next head coach at Campbell University, an FCS program in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The announcement from Campbell on Tuesday confirmed multiple prior news reports, including one from FCS Nation Radio on Sunday evening.
Harris is a 2008 graduate of UMHB, who played for The Cru from 2003-2005 as a quarterback before entering the coaching ranks. Within that span, he was part of the 2004 team that made UMHB’s first-ever Stagg Bowl appearance. He coached at UMHB from 2006-2009, initially as a student assistant before moving into a position as recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2007-2009.
He spoke extensively on his time in Belton and the impact it had on his coaching career in an interview with True To The Cru last spring.
“I think I learn more from Coach Fred every year I’m away from that program,” Harris said. “I see certain things and go, ‘Well, that’s how he did it. It makes a lot of sense now.’ He taught me how to work. He taught me how to coach the right way and demand a standard. He made me a better coach, that’s for sure.”
He returned to the D-III level at Texas Lutheran in 2011, leading TLU’s recruiting charge in addition to working on the defensive side of the ball. He rose to the level of associate head coach and defensive coordinator in 2013, holding that position until 2016, when he took over at Howard Payne ahead of the 2017 season.
Remaining in the ASC with HPU, Harris led the Yellow Jackets to a 5-5 record in 2019, marking the best season in program history since 2006. It was at that point that Harris made the jump to the D-I ranks at Campbell, where he again led the program’s recruiting efforts. An outstanding recruiter, Harris helped Campbell garner the No. 1 signing classes in FCS Football in consecutive seasons, which led to his first D-I head coaching opportunity with Houston Christian last spring.
Harris is the first UMHB football alum to earn a Division I head coaching job, and he accomplished plenty in what turned out to be his lone season in Houston.
In 2023, Harris led the Huskies to their first-ever winning season, posting a 6-5 record overall and a 4-3 mark in the Southland Conference. Linebacker Jalyx Hunt finished the year as an All-American as well as the Southland Conference play of the year.
“My family and I are so excited to return to Campbell, this program, this campus and this community,” said Harris in a press release from Campbell on Tuesday. “I also want to give my utmost appreciation to HCU director of athletics Steve Moniaci, the administration, and our players for giving me the chance to lead their program. Campbell is a special place with special people that we fell in love with during our two previous years here, and we are grateful for the opportunity to come back. This program is full of potential, talent and positive momentum, and I am ecstatic to align our vision for the future with a great administration, led by Dr. Creed and Mrs. Bazemore, as we continue to establish ourselves in the CAA and on the national level.”
This gives new meaning to the term “one and done”.