Jon Poppe was announced as Harvard's secondary and special teams coach in 2018, by Tim Murphy, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football. The 2022 campaign represents Poppe's fifth year of his second stint at Harvard and his ninth season overall with the Crimson.
Under Poppe's direction, Harvard has become one of the elite special teams units in the country, while boasting a secondary that is one of the stingiest in the FCS.
In 2021, the Crimson ranked in the top 20 in blocked punts (No. 12) and kickoff returns (No. 18), and was 21st in blocked kicks. On defense, meanwhile, Harvard ranked eighth nationally in interceptions with an Ivy League-leading 17, which helped aid a unit that ranked first in the FCS in rushing defense, fourth in team passing efficiency defense and 12th in total defense. Poppe helped Alex Washington to the All-Ivy League First Team following a campaign that saw him lead the team with four interceptions, with James Herring earning All-Ivy League Second-Team accolades after he finished with 69 tackles, blocked two punts and picked off three passes.
Harvard was one of the top special teams units in the country in 2019. The Crimson ranked first in the FCS and the Ivy League in blocked kicks (9), blocked punts (7) and blocked punts allowed (0), and was eighth in punt return defense (3.50) and 19th in net punting (38.80). Individually, Poppe tutored Herring, who ranked second in the FCS in blocked kicks (3), and Demarkes Stradford, who also ranked second in the nation in punt return touchdowns (1). Both players led the Ivy in each category. Jake McIntyre, meanwhile, set the Harvard career record for field goals and punter Jon Sot was named to the 2019 all-Ivy League first team. In the secondary, Poppe coached a pair of 2019 all-Ivy honorees in Isaiah Wingfield (first team) and Cole Thompson (honorable mention).
Harvard capped the 2018 campaign by defeating Yale, 45-27, in the highest scoring episode of The Game. The Crimson earned 13 All-Ivy selections, including five on the first team, and finished 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League. Wesley Ogsbury led the defense with six interceptions, while Sot and McIntyre were two of the top specialists in the Ivy League.
Poppe previously served as the assistant secondary coach at Harvard from 2011-15 where he led one of the most stifling units in the country. In each of his seasons in Cambridge, the Harvard defense ranked in the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense and led the nation in that category in 2014, when the Crimson went 10-0 and won its 16th Ivy League title. Harvard also won the conference championship in 2013. Thirteen Crimson defensive backs earned All-Ivy League accolades under Poppe.
Prior to returning to Harvard in 2018, Poppe was the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Columbia. The Lions defense was particularly stringent in 2017, ranking second in defensive scoring at 17.5 points per game. Columbia also led the league with 13 interceptions. In each of his last two seasons in New York City, Poppe's secondary unit led the Ivy League in pass defense. Seven Poppe-coached defensive backs earned All-Ivy honors in his three years at Columbia.
Before his first stint at Harvard, Poppe spent one year as the assistant secondary coach at Holy Cross in 2010. He arrived at Holy Cross after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Springfield College during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. At Springfield, 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 (Mass.). A three-year starter in the secondary for the Ephs, he earned First-Team All-NESCAC honors as a senior in addition to being selected All-East Region by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. He made 24 tackles, defended nine passes and contributed two interceptions as a senior.
