Michael Harper Named Football Head Coach At JP II
MADISON- With the hiring of Michael Harper as head coach, the St. John Paull II football program looks to start “a new in 22.” The Falcons’ Class 4A team has won one game over the last two seasons under two head coaches and are 15-55 overall under seven different coaches since the school began its football program in 2012.
“Coach Harper’s energy and enthusiasm, coupled with his ability to build a successful high school program, made him our top candidate from the start,” said Matt McManus athletic director of JP II after announcing the hiring of Harper in early February.
“I’m excited as I want this program to get a re-start and I look forward to the challenge,” said Harper who will be on the Falcon’s campus beginning March 2. “I’m really glad to be back in this immediate area and I’m in process of hiring a great coaching staff.”
The 40-year old Harper comes to JP II from Lynn High School located in Winston County. The small town of Lynn is a community of 660 while the high school is a Class 1A program. He was head basketball coach and associate head coach of the football team for the Bears. His round ball squad started the season at 6-2, but lost four starters to injuries and were out for over a month as his team finished third in the area.
Harper is no stranger to the Madison/Huntsville surroundings. Beginning in 2008, he has been a part of several elementary, middle and high schools including a stint at James Clemens High as an assistant coach and Whitesburg Christian Academy where he was head football coach. In between those two stops, Harper was head coach of the Liberty Middle School boy’s basketball team and had two stints as head coach of the Liberty football team. In his first stay at Liberty from 2008-2011 he led the Lions to its first ever undefeated season and North Alabama Region Championship. He made a return trip to that same position from 2016-2018 where his team again won the Region Championship and posted the program’s second undefeated season. He remains the only coach in the school history to achieve both honors twice.
“One of my career goals was to be a head basketball coach, but I figured out I really missed running a football program and while in the town of Lynn I found out I missed Madison and Huntsville,” said Harper. “I saw the opening listed and spoke with Mac about the job.”
Harper and his wife, Julie, of five years, have three children between them from previous relationships and are in the midst of making the return trip to the Madison area. A portion of his duties for the Catholic school will be to establish the framework for a school-wide Strength and Conditioning program, which is something Harper has dealt with in his previous coaching positions, and will be the facilities manager.
“The most important lessons I have learned as a coach is players want to play for a coach they can trust and one that genuinely cares for them,” added Harper, who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville State. “One of my goals will be to form a personal relationship with each of the 35 to 40 players I have on the squad. I have always believed that the more the players trust you, the harder they will play for you.”
“I know what I want to do, let’s get to it,” added Harper.
