Head Coach - Carmen Felus
Carmen Felus, a central Pennsylvania native with 14 years coaching experience including a stint at one of Pennsylvania’s top Division II programs, was named Juniata's head football coach at December 18, 2008.
“Carmen brings a Pennsylvania background, from his upbringing in Cambria County and coaching at IUP in particular, and we expect this will translate into a positive and aggressive recruiting approach in our region,” said Juniata athletic director Larry Bock. “He has been consistently positive about accepting the challenge here at Juniata, and is obviously a ‘can-do’ professional. We’re all real excited about the opportunity to work with Coach Felus.”
Felus comes to Juniata from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for the past three seasons. While at UT-Chattanooga, Felus coached San Diego Chargers free agent signee Eldra Buckley, who is still a member of the Chargers’ practice squad. Competing in the Southern Conference – consistently regarded as one of the toughest NCAA Division I FCS conferences in the nation – the Mocs went 6-28 during Felus’ three years as offensive coordinator.
Previously, Felus was offensive coordinator at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2005, where he engineered offenses that helped lead the Crimson Hawks to a share of five PSAC West championships and three trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Four IUP offensive players coached by Felus were either drafted or signed as free agents with teams in the National Football League or the Canadian Football League. The Crimson Hawks posted a combined mark of 49-16 during Felus’ six years on the staff at IUP, and were ranked among the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II top 20 for 52 consecutive poll weeks.
IUP’s best season during that time was in 2002, when the Crimson Hawks were ranked as high as sixth in the Division II poll, and reached the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs before finishing with an 11-2 record. The 2002 squad averaged 33.2 point per game, leading the conference and ranking 18th in Division II in that category.
Felus was on the coaching staff at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., during the 1998 and 1999 seasons, where he was again on an offensive coaching staff that enjoyed phenomenal success. The Rams were 19-4 over Felus’ two seasons at Shepherd, winning a pair of West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) championships and advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Felus served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, and coached the quarterbacks and wide receivers in addition to coordinating Shepherd’s recruiting efforts.
Felus began his coaching career at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa., in 1995, and spent two seasons’ on the Red Flash sidelines. He then moved on to Adams State College in Colorado, where was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for one season before accepting the position at Shepherd.
“I am very pleased to welcome Carmen to the Juniata community,” said Juniata President Tom Kepple. “He knows the Centennial Conference, as a McDaniel grad, has helped take teams to postseason play and to championships, and has great experience in recruiting. He has also hit the ground running, working with our staff and current athletes to ensure a great start for next fall.”
A native of Lilly, Pa., Felus graduated from Penn Cambria High School, and was a two-year letterwinner as a quarterback and wide receiver at Lock Haven University between 1990-92. He transferred to Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), where he completed his athletic eligibility in 1994 as the Green Terror’s sixth leading receiver in school history with 89 receptions for 755 yards. He graduated from Western Maryland in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.
Carmen and his wife Jennifer (Podlucky) welcomed their first child, a daughter named Marissa Carmella, on Thursday, Dec. 4. Jennifer also has ties to central Pennsylvania; she hails from Johnstown, Pa.
Felus replaces former head coach Darrell Alt, who announced his resignation on November 7, 2008.
Coach Felus can be reached at felusc@juniata.edu.
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - J.C. Harmon
James C. "J.C." Harmon, who previously served with Juniata head coach Carmen Felus on the staff of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, joined Felus' staff as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
Harmon spent the 2008 season at UT-Chattanooga as the offensive line coach, after spending the 2006 and 2007 seasons as the tight ends and tackles coach at South Carolina State University. As S.C. State, he was part of a staff that guided the Bulldogs to a 7-4 record both seasons. The 2007 squad led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in both total offense and rushing yardage, and was ranked ninth in Division I-FCS in rushing yards.
He spent a total of six years over two stints at Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Va., where he helped coach FUMA's post-graduate squad led by John Shuman. He was defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 1999 to 2001, and returned to serve as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 2003 to 2005.
In between his two stints at FUMA, Harmon spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons as an offensive assistant on Bobby Williamson's staff at Michigan State University. At MSU, Harmon was part of a staff that helped produce two NFL first-round draft picks in running back T.J. Duckett (2001) and receiver Charles Rogers (2003).
Harmon also worked briefly for the Richmond Speed of the Arena League 2, as the team's defensive secondary coach.
Harmon is a 1999 graduate of Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va., where he earned Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. He earned All-ACFC honors that season, and was named to the Academic All-ACFC and GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District squads. A two-time team captain, he set the Ferrum record for solo tackles in a game with 17 against Frostburg State in 1996.
Harmon and his wife Tara have a daughter, Mazie Grace, born October 2, 2007.
Defensive Coordinator - Tom Gibboney '78
Tom Gibboney will be in his third season as Juniata’s defensive coordinator in 2008.
Gibboney brings more than 25 years of coaching experience with him, including a familiarity with Juniata. He served as the head coach of the Eagles football program for three seasons. During that tenure from 1995-1998, Juniata went 10-19-1, including a 5-5 season which was the first time in the decade the Eagles reached the .500 mark.
Gibboney spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator for nearby Huntingdon High School, where he has helped the Bearcats to three District Championships.
Prior to his tenure as the Juniata head coach, Gibboney served as the head coach of the Huntingdon team from 1986-1995 and led the team to 60 victories.
A Juniata graduate and a standout in football and baseball, he received the prestigious Stanford Mickle Award in his senior season which is given to the top senior male athlete.
Gibboney, who also serves as head baseball coach at Juniata, resides in Huntingdon with his wife, Priscilla. The couple has three children.
Assistant Coach - Joe Battaglia (Defensive Backs)
Joe Battaglia joins the Juniata staff from Guilford College (N.C.), where he served as an intern on the defensive staff during the spring. In that capacity, he worked with the Quaker linebackers, and helped new defensive coordinator Joe Mitskas implement a new defensive scheme.
Battaglia was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker and defensive back at Guilford. He received his bachelor’s degree in sports management in May 2008.
Assistant Coach - John Boyer (Linebackers)
John Boyer joined the Juniata staff in 1990 as the outside linebacker/defensive end coach. After serving the defense for 10 seasons, he moved from linebacker coach to receivers coach in 2000, but returned to the defensive side of the ball in 2006. Boyer offers 29 years of football coaching experience to the program.
Boyer began his coaching career as an assistant with the program at Kishacoquillas High School, where he served for nine years. He was the varsity assistant coach at Lewistown High School from 1979-82, and spent two seasons on the varsity coaching staff at Indian Valley High School during the 1988-89 seasons.
A scholastic track and field coach for 18 years, Boyer has been an assistant coach at Indian Valley and Kishacoquillas, where he also served as head coach. Boyer spent nine years as an assistant coach for sprinters/hurdlers in the Juniata College track and field program.
A 1974 graduate of Bloomsburg, Boyer earned six varsity letters in football and track. Boyer lives in Belleville, and currently teaches at Indian Valley Middle School. He and his wife Kathryn have two sons, both Juniata graduates.
Assistant Coach - Tim Launtz '80 (Quarterbacks)
Tim Launtz returns to the Juniata College football coaching staff for his 13th season, and his fifth as the team’s quarterback coach. In his first four seasons as the QB coach, he helped develop a pair of freshmen signal callers. In the past, he has worked as the receivers and special teams coach and in 2000 he was the club’s defensive coordinator. He also works as the director of residential life at Juniata.
A 1980 Juniata graduate, Launtz transferred to College Hill from Lock Haven University and began his coaching career while still attending college. He served as a volunteer assistant coach at Huntingdon Area High School during his time final two years at Juniata, after a back injury ended his playing career.
After graduating from Juniata with a bachelor’s degree in social studies, Launtz worked as the head coach of the West Branch High School football program for two years. He guided the Warriors during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 school years.
Launtz joined the administrative staff at Juniata in 2000 from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, were he was a unit manager. He was employed by the correctional institution for 17 years.
He resides in Huntingdon with his wife, Kristy, and their daughter, Megan.
Assistant Coach - Will Lawing (Tight Ends)
The newest member of the Juniata football staff is Will Lawing, who joined the Eagles in March 2009. Lawing will coach tight ends, while serving as co-video coordinator with Assistant Coach Joe Battaglia and serving as pro scout liaison.
Lawing joins the Juniata football staff from the University of South Carolina, where he was an on-field assistant during the Gamecocks' 2008 pre-season.
Lawing is a December 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina, with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science. He was a four-year member of the UNC football team, and was active in Habitat for Humanity, Athletes in Action, and the UNC Campus Y. He is the son of Brad Lawing, defensive line coach at the University of South Carolina.
Assistant Coach - Doug Smith, CSCS (Defensive Line)
Doug Smith, who was an assistant coach/ strength and conditioning coordinator with Juniata from 1990 through the spring of 1993, returned to Juniata in 1997 as the College’s strength and conditioning coach.
As the strength and conditioning coach in the F. Samuel Brumbaugh and Martha A. Brumbaugh Strength and Fitness Center, which is located in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center, he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the fitness center and he works with teams and individuals who have specifically designed workout sessions.
Smith has established himself as one of the most recognized strength and conditioning authorities in the region. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and served as the NSCA’s state director in Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2006. Smith holds certifications from the USA Weightlifting Federation, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and he is also a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist.
Smith also works regularly as a strength and conditioning expert with two professional baseball organizations—the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers—during spring training. He is also the organizer and director of two strength and conditioning clinics held at Juniata each spring.
Smith came to Juniata from Lock Haven University where he was a strength and conditioning coordinator/assistant football coach from 1993 until 1996. He is a 1982 graduate of West Virginia State College where he received his bachelor’s degree in education. He received a Master of Science in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2007.
He and his wife, Donna, have a son, Chance, and a daughter, Lauren. The family resides
in Huntingdon.
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