Ben Harakel - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Ben Harakel

Title:
Defensive/Special Teams Analyst
Email:
harakebr@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517

Ben Harakel enters his fourth season with the JMU football program in 2022, as he serves as a defensive/special teams analyst. In this role he assists with the linebackers and defensive backs, as well as all special teams units.

Harakel was initially hired as a defensive graduate assistant in 2019 before transitioning to an analyst role prior to the spring 2021 season. In his first season, he worked primarily with the rovers and safeties.

Prior to JMU, he worked at his alma mater, Penn State, for four seasons (2015-18). He served as a defensive undergraduate assistant with the cornerbacks from August 2016 until February 2019 and began his career as a student video assistant and quality control in the 2015 season and 2016 spring workouts.

Harakel graduated from PSU in 2018 with a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and later earned a master of science in sport and recreation leadership at JMU in 2020.