J.J. Eckels joined the Saint Vincent College coaching staff prior to the 2022 season as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.
In his first season with the Bearcats, his special teams unit ranked third in the PAC in kickoff coverage and fourth in punt returning, led by junior Molayo Irefin, who was named First Team All-PAC, All-Region and D3Football.com All-America as a returner after leading the conference in both kick return average (27.2) and punt return average (15.8) and posting a pair of return touchdowns. Irefin also led the SVC receiving corps, earning First Team All-PAC after hauling in 62 catches for 732 yards and eight touchdowns. Irefin was one of nine SVC receivers to catch at least one touchdown, while five different Bearcat receivers amassed more than 150 receiving yards on the season.
Eckels came to Saint Vincent after spending seven seasons on the staff at Division II Mercyhurst University, where he spent time coaching wide receivers and cornerbacks.Â
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 Honor 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.
