STEPHENVILLE ? Tarleton's Michael Harper has announced his resignation from his post as the school's first full-time strength and conditioning coach.  

Harper, who came to Tarleton in the fall of 2005, has taken a position as an associate director in the The Cooper Institute's Division of Education.  

“Mike has been an integral part of developing our athletics program success over the last few years,” Reisman said.  “As our first full-time strength and conditioning coach, Coach Harper did an outstanding job, and he will be missed here at Tarleton.  He held the respect of his peers and the student-athletes, and we want to thank him for getting this program off the floor.  We wish him the very best in his new endeavors and hope he will be as successful there as he was here at Tarleton.”

Harper has designed, implemented and overseen all aspects of both in-season and off-season workout programs for all 12 NCAA Division II sports on campus, in addition to consulting on nutrition and supplements.

“Tarleton has been a great place to build a strength and conditioning program due to the enormous amount of support from both coaches and administration,” Harper said. “The facilities here at Tarleton lead the Lone Star Conference and have allowed for programs to be put into place very easily.”

Harper came to Tarleton from Texas Tech where he was an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

“When I arrived at Tarleton, I had very high expectations ? while I was moving from a D-I institution to a D-II institution, I did not allow that to diminish any expectations or traits that I brought,” Harper said. “Since arriving, the coaches have all become more supportive than I could ask and as a result the program has thrived immensely. I could not have done it on my own and thus must thank all of the current and former volunteers, student assistants and graduate assistants that I have had. These are the individuals behind the scenes that receive little or no credit other than the satisfaction of sharing their passion with athletes.”

Harper's first team to work with when he arrived on campus was the Texan football team, and head coach Sam McElroy is thankful for Harper's help with the strength and conditioning of the Texans on the gridiron.

“Mike was the guy that developed our strength program into what it is, and he has done a great job with our players the last several years,” McElroy said.  “Mike's strength program has allowed our players to reach their full potential and has also helped to reduce injuries.”

Head women's basketball coach, Ronnie Hearne, is also appreciative for what the program has done for his team.

“Mike has done a tremendous job in developing our players, and we are thankful for his dedication to his job,” Hearne said.  “We are sad to see him go.”

Prior to his stint at TTU, Harper spent two years as the Central Texas Coordinator for The Athletes Course.

As an active member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and U.S. Weightlifting Association (USWA), Harper has earned certifications as Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified from the CSCCa and Sport Performance Coach Certified from the USWA. Harper is also CPR, AED and First Aid certified by the American Red Cross.

Harper received a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood and was a captain of the football team, playing defensive end. In 2000, Harper played forward on the Texas Rugby Union Championship team.

In addition to his role in Tarleton athletics, Harper also competes in triathlons, educating the general public on attaining fitness through www.Tri4Fitness.net and philanthropic quests with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and American Legion.

Harper wants the program at Tarleton to continue to flourish

“My hope is that the strength and conditioning program here at Tarleton will continue to prosper and grow in an effort to continue to lead the Lone Star Conference in the program that it delivers,” Harper said. “Prior to arriving at Tarleton, there was a very small influence from strength & conditioning programs in the conference and Tarleton made the decision to start the trend in the conference. I am glad that I was able to be a part of that ground work as I truly believe it is for the ultimate benefit of the student-athlete and his or her success.”

The Cooper Institute was founded by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., who in 1968 introduced aerobics as a new word and concept to America.  The Institute was founded on June 22, 1970 and over three decades, through meticulous research, the basic premise and vision of Dr. Cooper that exercise was in important to treat and cure disease has been reaffirmed and strengthened.  The main office is located in the northernmost second of The Cooper Aerobics Center campus in Dallas.

Anyone interested in following Harper's progress through his triathlons can follow him through his website listed above, or by emailing him at Michael@tri4fitness.net.