Damon Harrington is in his second season as the head football strength and conditioning coach, where he oversees Texas State’s football strength and conditioning program.
Harrington rejoins Texas State head coach Jake Spavital after they worked together in 2016 at California. Harrington served in a similar capacity with the Bears, overseeing the football strength and conditioning program and overseeing five assistant coaches from 2013-16.
Harrington was instrumental in Cal’s seven-win turnaround on the field from a 1-11 record in 2013 to an 8-5 mark in 2015. That eight-win increase tied for the second-best improvement in Cal history dating back to 1946-48. The team’s conditioning helped Cal post 10 comeback victories between 2014-16, including six in the fourth quarter. The team also won five games in the final two minutes, with three coming on the final play and a pair of overtime contests. Three of Cal’s comeback wins in 2016 came against nationally-ranked Texas, Utah, and Oregon.
Harrington comes to Texas State after serving the last three years as the strength and conditioning coach at Grambling State. During his tenure at Grambling State, the Tigers won 23 games in his three seasons, including an 11-win campaign in 2017.
He went to California after serving two stints as the head strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, in 2002-03 and 2006-the 2013 spring practices. He was promoted in 2002-03 after spending the two previous seasons as an assistant coach in the Bulldogs’ strength and conditioning program in 2000-01. He also was an assistant director of player development at Georgia Tech in 2004-05.
When he was at Louisiana Tech, Harrington was instrumental in Bulldog football players breaking 26 strength records (by position) during his final seven years at the school. During the same period, Louisiana Tech had seven fourth-quarter comeback victories. Harrington and his staff implemented the Dawg Fight Program that incorporated ATTITUDE, TEAM, DISCIPLINE, TOUGHNESS, and EFFORT throughout his tenure at Louisiana Tech.
Harrington began his coaching career after playing for Louisiana Tech in 1995-99. He was a walk-on in 1995 before earning a scholarship in his sophomore season and starting every game in his final two seasons. Harrington recorded 243 tackles in his last two seasons after registering 121 stops in 1998 and 122 during his senior season. He earned All-Louisiana honors as a junior and senior and was named All-Independent by Football News in 1999.
Harrington earned his bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness in 2000 at Louisiana Tech and completed his master’s degree in sports science in 2002. Harrington holds a certification in strength and conditioning from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).
Harrington and his wife, Meg, have one son, Luke, and one daughter, Addie.
