Harding University Athletics

At Harding
Ronnie Huckeba is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Harding football team in 2016. He has a career record of 56-39 overall, including 34-10 in the last four seasons. Huckeba became head coach in October of 2007. He is the 12th head football coach in program history and the fifth since Harding restarted football in 1959. Huckeba has announced that he will retire following the 2016 season.

Prior to becoming head coach, Huckeba worked as an assistant coach for 21 seasons, including 13 seasons as Harding’s defensive coordinator.

Three of Huckeba’s last four Harding teams have reached the postseason. In 2012 and 2014, Harding reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and in 2013, the Bisons won the Texarkana Live United Bowl. In 2010, Huckeba was the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year.

Huckeba ranks third among Harding coaches in career wins (54) and second in career winning percentage (.589). He is the only Bison head coach to lead Harding to three postseason games.

Huckeba has five career wins over nationally-ranked teams, including Harding’s 28-24 victory at fourth-ranked Henderson State in 2014.

Two of Huckeba’s teams have finished the season ranked in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Top 25. Harding was ranked No. 19 in 2012 and No. 17 in 2014.

In his time as Harding head coach, Huckeba’s players have received 88 all-conference, 44 all-region and 14 all-America honors. The Bisons have garnered 94 academic all-conference, 13 academic all-district and one academic all-America honor.

Additionally, Huckeba has had five players in postseason all-star games, two players sign NFL free agent contracts, one Harlon Hill Award national finalist, one Gene Upshaw Award regional finalist, and one NFL draft pick.

Huckeba’s teams ranked in the top five in NCAA Division II in rushing offense in each of the last six seasons and led the nation in rushing in 2011. Prior to Harding’s switch to the flexbone offense, Huckeba’s squads ranked in the top five in Division II in passing offense in both 2007 and 2008.

Huckeba’s defenses have ranked in the top 15 in Division II in rushing defense five times, ranking second in 2013. Harding was in the top 10 in total defense in both 2012 (sixth) and 2014 (ninth).

Prior to Harding
In 1979, Huckeba began his coaching career as an assistant at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Ark. The next year he moved on to Fort Worth Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas where he served as an assistant under Randy Tribble.

Playing Career
Huckeba was a standout Bison offensive lineman for Harding from 1973-76. He started at guard on the Bisons’ 1976 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference co-championship squad.

Huckeba was a three-year letterwinner, playing both tight end and defensive end at Claxton High School in Claxton, Ga., from 1969-72.

Education
Huckeba received his bachelor’s degree in education from Harding in 1978. He earned his master’s degree in physical education from Harding in 1983.

Huckeba is a native of Claxton, Ga., and is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology.

Family
He is married to the former Peggy Jones of Shreveport, La. The couple has three children - Hope, Jeb, and Jordan.