East Texas Baptist University Athletics

POSITION: Head Coach (Special Teams)
Brian Mayper is entering his fifth year at East Texas Baptist University and is the sixth head coach of the football program in the NCAA Division III era. His leadership at the NCAA Division I, II, III, junior college, and professional levels have prepared him to continue ETBU’s winning tradition and take it to the next level. One of his biggest coaching accomplishments was earning the 2013 Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Central Texas Coach of the Year award. He said in his first press conference at ETBU, “We will succeed as we set high expectations to be 'Champions' on the field, in the classroom, and a light throughout the world."

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2021 Fall Season
His fourth year of coaching came in the fall after a shortened spring season. ETBU finished at 5-5 and won their season opener over Wisconsin-Platteville in Wisconsin. He had over 20 players earn ASC All-Academic awards and two players were All-ASC second team.

• Record: 5-5, tied 5th in the ASC
• Jordan Estes was the first AFCA All-American first-team selection at snapper
• Cory Stang (OL) and James Wright IV (DL) made the All-ASC second team
• 12 players made All-ASC teams
• 20 players made the ASC All-Academic team
• ETBU handed Wisconsin-Platteville their first season opening loss in 18 years
• It was the second season in a row for ETBU to open with a win

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2021 COVID Spring Season
The third year of coaching brought a five-game spring season due to COVID. ETBU collected their sixth straight winning season and Mayper is the first head coach to have three straight winning seasons. ETBU won the ASC Playoff Game to finish third in the division.

• Record: 3-2, 3rd in the ASC
• KJ Kelley was named to the D3football.com All-American first team
• Justice Henson was named to the D3football.com All-Region second team
• 16 players earned All-ASC awards; Kelly was on the first-team
• 32 players made the ASC All-Academic team - best in ASC
• 5 players were named ASC Players of the Week
• ETBU defeated Texas Lutheran, 51-20, in the ASC Playoff Game to finish in third place

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2019 Season
In his second year, ETBU produced their fifth straight winning season and Mayper became the first coach since Ralph Harris in 2002 and 2003 to have back-to-back winning seasons. ETBU kept “The Claw” for the fifth straight year winning in Louisiana over the Wildcats, 31-7.

• Record: 6-4, 4th in the ASC
• Anton Clark was named AP Little College All-American
• Brian Baca earned the ASC Football Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award
• Sirbatian Charles and Clark were named D3football.com All-Region
• 12 players earned All-ASC awards; Baca, Clark, and Charles were first-team
• 16 players made the ASC All-Academic team
• Baca broke the career record for passing touchdowns (64)
• Baca was a semi-finalist for the Campbell Trophy

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2018 Season
In his first year, he guided ETBU to their fourth straight winning season and retained “The Claw” with a win over Louisiana College.

• Record: 6-4; 3^rd in the ASC
• First coaching win came on Sep. 15^th vs. Southwestern, 51-21
• Richard Johnson broke career record for most receiving touchdowns in ETBU’s history (40)
• Three players named ASC Players of the Week: Dominic Haggerty (Special Teams-Sept. 2), Brian Baca (Offensive-Oct. 7), Aaron Buckley (Defensive-Oct. 21)
• Richard Johnson named AFCA and D3football.com All-American
• 16 players named ASC All-Academic
• 12 players earned All-ASC awards
• Brian Baca voted to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
• ETBU won their fourth straight game over Louisiana College for the “Battle of the Border” Claw

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Presidentail Quote
ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn shares, “We turn to a new chapter for ETBU under the coaching and spiritual leadership of Head Coach Brian Mayper. Brian has a heart for God and desires to use sports as a platform for evangelism, ministry, and discipleship. Coach Mayper shares our vision for program excellence and is committed to building our Tigers into Christ's champions." 

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Coaching Stops
He has made coaching stops at Lamar University (NCAA Division I), Southern Arkansas University (NCAA Division II), Howard Payne University (NAIA, NCAA Division III), Navarro College (NJCAA), and professionally in Europe.

Belgrade Wolves – Europe – Head Coach
Mayper was overseas coaching for the Belgrade Wolves in the Central European Football League before coming back to the United States.  He was the head coach for one year in Europe guiding the Wolves to a 12-3 record finishing as the European Championship runner-up in 2016. In that year, he coached Mihailo Josovic, the SAAF MVP of the European League.  Upon his return to Texas, Mayper took on the role of passing game coordinator at Brennan High School this past year.

Navarro College – Head Coach
He was the head coach at Navarro College for three seasons going 26-6. In those three seasons, Navarro was nationally ranked and won two bowl games. His first team in 2012 went 10-2, winning the SWJCFC Championship and the Heart of Texas Bowl, finishing ranked fourth in the final NJCAA poll. The following year his team won the Brazos Valley Bowl, going 9-3 overall and were ranked 12^th in the final NJCAA poll. The 2014 season brought a 7-3 record, a final ranking of 14^th in the nation, and a Navarro program record for highest scoring team, with 528 points (52.8 points per game).
 
Lamar University – Assistant Coach
Being a part of history at Lamar University, Mayper was on the first coaching staff that restarted football in 2010. He was the associate head coach under Ray Woodard for two seasons, and also coached wide receivers and special teams. He left Lamar with two program records in the longest punt return for a touchdown and most kickoff return yards in an individual season.
 
Howard Payne – Assistant coach
Spending nine years at Howard Payne University, Mayper helped the Yellow Jackets to some of their best years in football. He was the co-offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and head JV coach in that time. He coached four all-time HPU program greats in Adam King (2004), Richard Green (2000), Tyrone Brown (1997), and Drew McMaster (2004). All four players rank number one in program history with King in passing, Green in rushing, Brown as a return specialist, and McMaster as a kicker.

High School
In the Texas High School ranks, Mayper served as offensive coordinator and special teams coach at 6A Frisco High School, in addition to his stint at Brennan High School. 
 

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Mentorship/FCA
His character and life experiences as a coach will continue to move ETBU's faith-integrated program forward.  Already involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mayper has recruited, mentored and coached numerous players that have advanced to professional football careers.  He has started three FCA Huddles on college and high school campuses.  Coach Mayper created a discipleship program geared to mentoring young men in their Christian faith over the course of his football coaching career.
 

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Personal
Graduating in 1994 from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Mayper played one year for the Bearkats before suffering a career-ending injury. He then earned a Master of Education from Southern Arkansas University in 1995, while serving as an offensive graduate assistant coach for SAU.
 
He and his wife, Theresa, have been married for 27 years and have two daughters, Myka and Mia.
 

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Quotes on Mayper
"Coach Mayper brings a wealth of experience to ETBU and understands and embraces Christ-centered athletics and a program that is committed to discipleship. His passion for mentoring young men through the sport of football is exactly what we strive for in a head coach and his dedication to excellence and his faith aligns with our vision of athletics as a leader of the ETBU football program." 
Ryan Erwin – ETBU Vice President for Athletics

"Coach Mayper played a major part in my eight-year Olympic career where I won three World Championships and two USA Championships. Although he wasn’t a direct source to my Pro Track and Field career, he was the main reason I attended Howard Payne that later led me to my career. Coach Mayper is one of the most loyal people I know. He puts GOD first and is not afraid to let the world know."
Greg Nixon – USA Olympian

"I'm excited that Coach Mayper is taking over at ETBU.  He's a great Christian man and a great coach.  He will grow the football program and there is no doubt ETBU will become a national power.  More importantly, he will grow the young men in his program into great servant leaders.  I will be excited to send my players to play at ETBU under his leadership."
Josh Gibson – Head Football Coach Texarkana Pleasant Grove HS
2017 Texas State Champions

“Fantastic hire by ETBU! Brian Mayper is an outstanding person and football coach. He will impact the football program, university and community in a positive way for the gospel and lead student-athletes to tremendous successes on the football field and in life.”
Steve Roberts – Associate Executive Director Arkansas Activities Association
 
"Brian is one of the best teachers I have had an opportunity to see. Brian does a great job at simplifying his offense and making sure his players are able to perform at a high level. He is a great coach but a better man."
Calvin Thibodeaux – Defensive Line Coach University of Oklahoma

"I’ve known Brian since he was a student assistant coach at Sam Houston State University in the early 90’s. It’s been fun to watch all the success that he’s had at different stops along the way. He’s a tremendous role model for student-athletes and understands it’s not just about wins and losses. He will do a great job building and sustain a winner program. He will also do it the right way."
Willie Fritz – Head Football Coach Tulane University

“I’ve known Brian since our days at Sam Houston State. He is a great mentor and coach. I entrusted him to coach my son at Navarro and he loved playing for him. Brian has always led his teams with class and integrity. I know he will have continued success.”
Blake Anderson – Head Football Coach Arkansas State University
 
"ETBU is getting an outstanding coach and recruiter. Coach Mayper is a winner who knows how to build a successful program. But more than that, he is a servant leader, who will lead the way on the and off the field. I’m excited for him and the Tiger Family"
Josh Moore – Running Backs Coach Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) – Grey Cup Champions

“It is exciting to see coach Mayper take over the ETBU football program. I know the type of man that program is getting because we both grew up in Alief (Houston) and have been friends for a long time. He has dedicated his life to building strong men of character that strive for excellence on and off the field I look forward to seeing ETBU do great things in the near future.”
Karl Scott – Defensive Backs Coach University of Alabama
 
“Coach Mayper is a perfect fit for ETBU. He is a man of faith, has tremendous character, and will build a championship culture that student athletes will want to be a part of.”
Ryan Held – Running Backs Coach Nebraska University (former coach for 2017 National Champions University of Central Florida)