J.J. Eckels starts his seventh year on the Mercyhurst coaching staff in 2020 and will again be in charge of defensive backs. He was previously an assistant for WRs in 2014-15. He worked with the secondary in 2016 and then with the wide receivers again in 2017.
During the 2017 season, Eckels was the WR coach for a corps that totaled 119 receptions for 1,789 yards and 11 touchdowns. Ten of those touchdowns were scored by Brad Novak, who set a program record by catching TD passes in eight consecutive games. Novak finished the season with 10 touchdown receptions.
In 2014, his group amassed a combined 100 receptions, nearly 1,900 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. Stephen Yarbrough posted a career season in his final year with the Lakers and was named to the All-PSAC West Second Team for his efforts. He led the squad with 761 yards and tied for the team lead with seven touchdowns.
A native of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Eckels joined Mercyhurst after serving as a graduate assistant at Frostburg State University. At Frostburg State, he coached the defensive backs and held individual meetings with the safeties, in particular.
He also spent a brief time at the University of Wisconsin-Stout where he worked with quarterbacks and receivers in a high-tempo, spread option offense.
Eckels graduated from Clarion University where he was a four-year starter at safety for the Golden Eagles. He was a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete recipient and helped lead Clarion to an 8-3 record in 2009 - ranking eighth in the final Northeast regional poll.
Eckels attended McKeesport Area High School where he was a member of the National Honors Society. At McKeesport, he was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, baseball, and wrestling. He led the Tigers to the 2005 AAAA State Championship and a trip to the 2007 AAAA State semifinals.
He was an All-Conference selection at quarterback and was presented the Chuck Lickert Award as McKeesport’s Most Outstanding Athlete.
At Clarion, Eckels finished his career with 128 total tackles, including a personal-best 46 stops as a senior in 2011. He graduated from Clarion in 2012 with a dual major in corporate finance and monetary economics.
