ABILENE – One of the legendary quarterbacks of Texas high school and collegiate football is joining head coach Keith Patterson's coaching staff at Abilene Christian University.
Graham Harrell, announced on January 15 as a member of the 2025 induction class into the College Football Hall of Fame, joins the Wildcats as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He previously held the same positions at Purdue in the Big Ten during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Harrell began his duties at ACU on Monday.
Harrell is very familiar with ACU and its football program. His father, former head coach of Ennis High School Sam Harrell, played football at ACU under head coaches Dewitt Jones and Ted Sitton, graduated from ACU in 1979, and won Class 4A state championships in 2000, 2001, and 2004. His mother, Kathy (Stanton '80) Harrell, is also an ACU graduate, and his youngest brother, Clark, graduated from ACU in 2011 after playing for the Wildcats from 2008-2010.
"With his parents and brother having graduated from ACU, Graham understands the university, which makes it a great fit," Patterson said upon announcing the hire on Tuesday. "He's on the Mount Rushmore of Texas Tech football. When the news that we had hired him leaked out last week, I got phone calls from a wide range of people, from Lubbock and Oklahoma to high school and college coaches, who were excited about him being here. That gave me a small peek into this great opportunity for our program and university."
In 2024, ACU's offense ranked among the best in NCAA Division I FCS football. It finished fourth in total offense with an average of 496.6 yards per game. The team finished second in the nation for passing yards and attempts and fourth in first downs, passing touchdowns, passing completions, and offensive touchdowns. Additionally, it ranked fifth in offensive plays, sixth in offensive touchdowns, seventh in passing offense and total points, and eighth in yards per play.
Quarterback Maverick McIvor ranked fourth in the nation for passing yards (3,828), completions (312), and attempts (499), fifth for passing yards per game, and seventh for passing touchdowns. He benefited from one of the top groups of skill players in the country, which included receivers Blayne Taylor, Nehemiah Martinez, J.J. Henry, Trey Cleveland, and Javon Gipson; tight end Jed Castles; and running backs Sam Hicks and Isaiah Johnson. The offensive line allowed only 17 sacks over 14 games.
The Wildcats finished 9-5 in 2024, won the United Athletic Conference championship, reached the FCS playoffs for the first time, and beat Northern Arizona in the first round at Wildcat Stadium. Even though ACU lost several standout players from the 2024 offense – including McIvor, Taylor, Martinez, Hicks, and Johnson – Harrell is eager to put another top-tier offense on the field in 2025.
"I understand we've lost a lot of productive guys from last year's offense, but we have some coming back as well," Harrell said. "We have to figure out what we have and what we do best. No matter the situation – whether you have a lot of guys back or just a few – it's always important to figure out the style that fits your personnel. You might not look the same from year to year in football because you lose kids, and you have to find out what the new group does well. And that will be our No. 1 priority in the offseason."
After last year's offensive coordinator, Rick Bowie, left ACU in late December to take on the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky, Patterson began searching for a new coordinator. He was looking for a coordinator who could lead an up-tempo offense, and when he and Harrell discussed the position, everything fell into place quickly. Harrell, who will implement a system nearly identical to the Air Raid system the Wildcats used in 2024, ensures a smooth transition and a continuity in the team's offensive strategy.
"Graham will continue to build on what we did last year," Patterson said. "He played in the system for Mike Leach, and that's big in helping our quarterbacks understand the nuances that go along with playing in the Air Raid offense. Graham has played in and coached great offenses, so he knows what it's supposed to look like. The experience he brings not only playing in the system but coaching it commands immediate respect. Everything Graham brings to the table is positive."
Harrell has coached at five Power 4 universities since 2014, working as an offensive quality control coach at Oklahoma State in 2009. He spent the next five years in the NFL and Canadian Football League before retiring and getting back into coaching. He coached with his Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach at Washington State in 2014 and 2015 before moving to North Texas, where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2016-18.
He held that position at USC for three seasons (2019-21), spent one year in the same role at West Virginia in 2022, and the last two seasons at Purdue. Harrell said returning to West Texas played a role in his choice to join Patterson's staff.
"I have quite a few ties to West Texas, obviously, and Abilene in particular," Harrell said. "My parents and brother graduated from ACU, and my grandparents lived in Abilene until they passed away. I know the people here (in Abilene), and they're good people. When I'm recruiting, we're selling the offense and putting points on the board and all of those things. But I will also talk to these guys about the people they'll encounter on campus and in the football offices and locker room. This place is incredible and will be an easy sell to recruits."
Harrell solidified his legacy in Texas football on the evening of November 1, 2008, when he created one of the iconic moments in Red Raider and Big 12 football history. A thrilling final 90 seconds propelled the sixth-ranked Red Raiders to a stunning 39-33 upset over the No. 1-ranked Texas in front of more than 56,000 fans at Jones AT&T Stadium and a national television audience. With 1:29 remaining in the game, the Longhorns led 33-32, but one of the great moments in Texas college football history was about to unfold in Lubbock.
On first and 10 from the Texas 28-yard line, the game appeared to be over when a pass from Harrell was tipped and nearly intercepted by Blake Gideon, a pick that would have preserved a Texas victory. But the drop gave Harrell and the Red Raiders another chance. With eight seconds left in the game, he dropped back and hit All-American receiver Michael Crabtree near the right sideline at the 6-yard line with about three seconds left. Crabtree broke a tackle and stepped into the end zone with one second to play, giving the Red Raiders a 39-33 win and setting off a wild post-game celebration.
Harrell was among the 18 college football greats and four former coaches named to the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony will be on Dec. 9 at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.
Over his three seasons leading Texas Tech's record-setting offense, Harrell torched opposing defenses for 15,793 passing yards over his Red Raider career. Harrell finished fourth in the 2008 Heisman Trophy voting, narrowly topping Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, who was fifth overall after a memorable season that saw the Red Raiders finish 11-1 in the regular season and rise to No. 2 in the national polls.
Harrell was named the Sammy Baugh Trophy winner as a junior in 2007 before claiming the Johnny Unitas Award, AT&T All-America Player of the Year, and Sporting News Co-Player of the Year honors in 2008. He was also tabbed a first team All-American by the AFCA following a 2008 season where he threw for 5,111 yards and 45 touchdowns. Harrell broke seven NCAA records during his playing career and remains in the top five of seven FBS statistical categories, including career passing yards and touchdown passes.
Harrell, a three-time All-Big 12 honoree, led Texas Tech to a share of the 2008 Big 12 South title. He still holds the conference's records for career completions and touchdown passes. He ranks second in Big 12 history for career passing yards, career attempts, and career completion percentage (69.4). He remains the only quarterback in Big 12 history to lead the league in passing yards in three seasons.
Born in Brownwood, where his father was an assistant coach to legendary high school coach Gordon Wood, Harrell played for his father at Ennis. As a sophomore, he led the team to the 2001 state title as quarterback.
Harrell set Texas high school records in these categories:
• Single-season passing yards (4,825 in 2003 over 13 games; the next two quarterbacks on the list set their records over 16-game seasons). The record stood until 2007, when former Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert broke it
• Career passing yards (12,532 from 2000 to 2003; broken by Gilbert in 2008).
• Single-season touchdown passes (67 in 2003)
• Career touchdown passes (167 from 2000 to 2003)
• Single-season pass completions (334 in 2003; also broken by Gilbert, who recorded 359 completions in 2007).
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