Temple University Athletics
Harmon and Tripodi Named Offensive Assistant Coaches
1.16.19 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Football head coach Rod Carey continues to unveil his 2019 coaching staff with the announcement of Craig Harmon and Joe Tripodi as assistant coaches.
"I am excited to bring both Craig and Joe to Temple," said Carey. "We have coached together for some time and there is a great deal of trust amongst us. That trust, and the fact that they are great teachers, motivators and offensive minds, in addition to being great men and fathers, will help take this football team where we want it to go."
Craig Harmon has had a variety of positions over four seasons within Carey's NIU staff but most recently was the quarterbacks coach from 2016-2018. The 2018 season the offense did well in the air amassing 2,175 passing yards and 15 touchdowns with six different receivers catching touchdowns.
Harmon was NIU's tight ends/fullbacks/special teams coordinator in 2015 and was the tight ends and fullbacks coach in 2014. He spent the 2013 season as tight ends coach at Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater, which posted a 15-0 record and won the national title. Prior to 2013, he was the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Georgia State University from 2010-12, working for head coach Bill Curry to help start the GSU program. Harmon was offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for four seasons (2006-09) at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Quincy in 2002-03 and then at NIU from 2004-05.
"When Coach Carey asked me to come to Temple I didn't hesitate to say yes," said Harmon. "My family and I are excited to come to Philadelphia. I am excited to work with an Owls' team that has a lot of explosive players."
Joe Tripodi was the offensive line coach at NIU since 2013, and also added run game coordinator to his role from 2016-18. His offensive line helped pave the way for the Huskies to average 240 rushing yards per game, the best in the MAC in 2018. Over the last four years, the Huskies' offensive line ranked among the nation's best in fewest sacks allowed.
Tripodi spent two seasons as a graduate assistant on the Huskies' coaching staff before serving as tight ends and fullbacks coach during NIU's 2012 MAC Championship season. Before becoming a graduate assistant at NIU in 2010, he started the defensive line coach at Chelsea High (Mich.), his alma mater, in 2008 and 2009.
"I had a great run at NIU," said Tripodi. "I grew as a football coach with the Huskies but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to come to Temple, with Coach Carey. I'm excited to begin working with this group of talented players."
Carey has already hired Brad Ohrt as the team's new strength and conditioning coach. He has also hired Jeff Knowles, Melvin Rice, and Walter Stewart, who each worked on his NIU staff last season.
"I am excited to bring both Craig and Joe to Temple," said Carey. "We have coached together for some time and there is a great deal of trust amongst us. That trust, and the fact that they are great teachers, motivators and offensive minds, in addition to being great men and fathers, will help take this football team where we want it to go."
Craig Harmon has had a variety of positions over four seasons within Carey's NIU staff but most recently was the quarterbacks coach from 2016-2018. The 2018 season the offense did well in the air amassing 2,175 passing yards and 15 touchdowns with six different receivers catching touchdowns.
Harmon was NIU's tight ends/fullbacks/special teams coordinator in 2015 and was the tight ends and fullbacks coach in 2014. He spent the 2013 season as tight ends coach at Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater, which posted a 15-0 record and won the national title. Prior to 2013, he was the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Georgia State University from 2010-12, working for head coach Bill Curry to help start the GSU program. Harmon was offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for four seasons (2006-09) at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Quincy in 2002-03 and then at NIU from 2004-05.
"When Coach Carey asked me to come to Temple I didn't hesitate to say yes," said Harmon. "My family and I are excited to come to Philadelphia. I am excited to work with an Owls' team that has a lot of explosive players."
Joe Tripodi was the offensive line coach at NIU since 2013, and also added run game coordinator to his role from 2016-18. His offensive line helped pave the way for the Huskies to average 240 rushing yards per game, the best in the MAC in 2018. Over the last four years, the Huskies' offensive line ranked among the nation's best in fewest sacks allowed.
Tripodi spent two seasons as a graduate assistant on the Huskies' coaching staff before serving as tight ends and fullbacks coach during NIU's 2012 MAC Championship season. Before becoming a graduate assistant at NIU in 2010, he started the defensive line coach at Chelsea High (Mich.), his alma mater, in 2008 and 2009.
"I had a great run at NIU," said Tripodi. "I grew as a football coach with the Huskies but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to come to Temple, with Coach Carey. I'm excited to begin working with this group of talented players."
Carey has already hired Brad Ohrt as the team's new strength and conditioning coach. He has also hired Jeff Knowles, Melvin Rice, and Walter Stewart, who each worked on his NIU staff last season.
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