Jon Poppe joined the Harvard football staff in August 2011 and enters his third season as an assistant coach in 2013. Poppe works with Harvard’s defensive secondary and recruits in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Last season, three Harvard defensive backs earned All-Ivy League recognition. Among that group was Chris Splinter, who picked off five passes and tied for fifth nationally with 0.5 interceptions per game. The secondary helped the Crimson rank eighth nationally in scoring defense at 17.4 points allowed per game.

A year earlier, in Poppe’s first season, Harvard ranked 21st nationally in pass efficiency defense and fifth in scoring defense, surrendering just 17.1 points per contest.

Prior to his time at Harvard, Poppe spent a year as assistant secondary coach at Holy Cross in 2010. Poppe came to Holy Cross after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Springfield College during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He coached both the quarterbacks and the fullbacks, in addition to running the defensive scout team.

Poppe previously spent one season as an intern assistant coach at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., coaching the cornerbacks and special teams.

Poppe is a 2007 graduate of Williams College. A three-year starter in the secondary for the Ephs, he earned first team All-New England Small College Athletic Conference honors as a senior in addition to being selected All-East Region by Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette.