Tony Harper enters his first season as Defensive Coordinator for the Warner University Royals football program, bringing with him more than 25 years of coaching experience across the NAIA, NCAA, and high school levels. A proven leader and defensive strategist, Harper has guided nationally ranked defenses and mentored numerous All-Conference, Academic All-American, and All-American athletes throughout his career.
Most recently, Harper served as Defensive Coordinator at Albertville High School (Ala.) and Grand Island High School (Neb.), following a highly successful tenure at Hastings College (Neb.), where he was the Head Football Coach from 2011–2020 after five seasons as the Broncos’ Defensive Coordinator. While at Hastings, Harper led the program to the 2009 NAIA National Playoffs and consistently fielded some of the nation’s top defensive units.
Prior to Hastings, Harper held coaching roles at Dana College (Neb.) as Special Teams Coordinator, Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) as both Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, and Concordia University Chicago (Ill.) as Running Backs Coach.
A native of Barnard, Missouri, Harper earned his B.A. in Physical Education with an emphasis in Fitness & Sports Management from Doane College (Neb.), and later completed his M.A. in Human Services Administration at Concordia University Chicago. He has also contributed to the sport as a former All-American Committee member.
Harper and his wife, Savannah, reside in Lake Wales. Their son, Chase, is a freshman hurdler at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs.
