Howard Payne announced the hiring of Roger Geise, current
assistant head football coach, as the new head coach of the Yellow
Jacket football team.
Geise joined the HPU coaching staff in 2005 as the defensive line
coach. He then served as the Yellow Jacket defensive coordinator
from the 2008 season until now. He replaces Steve Fanara, who was cut loose earlier in
December after compiling a 9-31 record in four seasons.
“We are very pleased that Roger Geise has agreed to become
the head football coach at Howard Payne University,” said
Mike Jones, HPU athletic director. “He is an exceptional
leader of young men, has a great rapport with our student athletes
and I believe he is the best person to lead this program going
forward. We are very excited for the future of Yellow Jacket
football under Roger's guidance.”
Geise has coached 16 All-Conference defensive players in his time
at HPU. His 2005 defensive unit set an American Southwest
Conference record for interceptions in a season, with 29.
Geise, who has more than 35 years of coaching experience, began
his career in his native state of Pennsylvania in 1970. He joined
the LSU staff in 1974 as a graduate assistant and served in that
position for three years. He coached Dan Alexander and A.J. Duhe,
who went on to have lengthy careers in the NFL.
“I am honored that the Howard Payne administration has faith
in me and what we want to do in the future in building the HPU
football program,” said Roger Geise. “I have some mixed
emotions, having worked with Coach Fanara (previous head coach) for
the past six years. I wish him the best in the future.”
Geise entered the high school coaching ranks in Texas in 1977. He
coached at numerous schools and served as athletic director and
head football coach at Johnson City, Sabine and Lohn High Schools.
He has coached more than 25 years in the Texas high school
ranks.
“Coach Geise already has a long, distinguished football
career, and we are fortunate to have him lead our team,” said
Dr. Bill Ellis, university president. “But, Coach Geise is
more than just a great football coach – he is a man of faith
with a deep commitment to the educational mission of our
university.”
Geise earned his bachelor's degree from Lock Haven where he was a
four-year letterwinner. He also holds a master's degree from LSU.
In 2005, Geise was inducted into the Romanoski Chapter of the
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Roger and his wife, Sandra, live
in the Mercury area where they have a ranching operation.
“I want to extend my congratulations to Roger Geise on his
appointment as the new head coach of our football program,”
said Brent Marsh, vice president for student life and dean of
students. “Coach Geise has already proven his commitment and
dedication to the program by earning successive promotions over the
years, and I am confident that he will capably lead the Yellow
Jacket football team to many victories both on and off the
field.”