Justin Harper was hired to be the Mountaineers' wide receivers coach in January 2026.
 
A native of nearby Catawba, N.C., Harper was drafted into the NFL following a standout collegiate career as a Virginia Tech receiver and played professionally from 2008-13, spending the first three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
 
He began his coaching career in 2013 and served on Bob Chesney’s staff as James Madison’s wide receivers coach from 2024-25, helping the Dukes win the 2025 Sun Belt title and amass more than 500 yards of offense in a 51-34 loss to Oregon in the College Football Playoff.
 
Four different JMU wide receivers had more than 25 catches in 2025, contributing to 26 touchdown receptions by the Dukes, who finished 12-2. During the 2024 season, JMU’s receiving corps helped the offense rank in the top 30 nationally in several categories, including fewest interceptions (tied for No. 1 at four), time of possession (23rd at 31:48), scoring offense (26th at 33.3 points) and pass efficiency (30th at 144.60).
 
Prior to joining JMU’s staff, Harper coached at fellow Sun Belt East Division program Old Dominion (tight ends from 2022-23), Towson (wide receivers/pass game coordinator from 2018-21), Central State (wide receivers in 2017), Virginia State (wide receivers from 2015-16, with a stint as the interim head coach in the 2016 preseason) and Lenoir-Rhyne (wide receivers from 2013-14).
 
Harper’s time in Norfolk was highlighted by coaching Zack Kuntz, who became a seventh-round pick of the New York Jets in the NFL Draft. At Towson, he helped the Tigers make the 2018 FCS playoffs and coached two-time All-CAA receiver Shane Leatherbury, who had 12 touchdowns in 2019 after making seven TD grabs in 2018. As Virginia State’s interim head coach from January to May in 2016, he signed a recruiting class of 17 players, with three of them becoming all-rookie performers.
 
Harper’s playing career in the ACC, NFL and CFL was sandwiched between his time as a prep standout at Bandys High School and the beginning of his coaching career in Hickory at Lenoir-Rhyne. He caught 83 passes for 1,338 yards and eight touchdowns as a member of the Hokies, scoring twice in the 2008 Orange Bowl, and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Ravens before finishing his pro career in Canada with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions.

HARPER AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2013-14: Lenoir-Rhyne (Wide receivers)
2015-16: Virginia State (Wide receivers)
2017: Central State (Wide receivers)
2018-21: Towson (Wide receivers/Pass game coordinator)
2022-23: Old Dominion (Tight ends)
2024-25: James Madison (Wide receivers)

Playing Experience
2004-07: Virginia Tech (wide receiver)
2008-11: Baltimore Ravens
2012-13: CFL