Brian Harmon went to the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh and left with more than hope for his future with the beloved Steelers.
He came back with a clear plan for the future at Greater Beckley Christian.
It was from the discussions held during that three-day trip that led to the decision to return football to Prosperity school. This act became official and became the subject of controversy when it was announced on social media earlier this week.
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Greater Beckley will officially introduce football back into the athletics curriculum beginning in the fall of 2026, and Harmon will be the head coach. The school has not fielded a football team in 20 years.
“Justin Arvon, our director, and one of the teachers and I had been to the NFL Draft and we were just talking about football,” Harmon said. “And I said, ‘What happened to the show?’ What was its rise and fall?”
The Crusaders had a football program for two seasons, in 2005 and 2006, but had to disband the team due to roster cuts and budget concerns. They went 2-15 over those two seasons.
Once Harmon and Arvon had a plan, they presented it to Athletic Director Jeff Graham. With Graham’s blessing, plans moved forward with a clear vision to launch in just a few months.
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“We have communicated our intentions to the WVSSAC (West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission),” Harmon said.
Everyone involved is comfortable with the way things are and feels that the issues that arose 20 years ago will not be a factor this time around.
“We’re looking at an increase in students here so we feel like we can move forward, look at our middle school grades so we can support something with longevity,” Harmon said.
Greater Beckley currently has a roster of 20 players. Harmon said the plan is to run their summer flex days in the first and third weeks of June.
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“Our goal is to play two or three varsity games this year, and for the rest (of the season) we will play developmental football, just play the JV schedule on Monday,” he said. “And in 2027 we are looking to start putting a competitive team (evarsity) to prepare for single-A football.”
This will be Harmon’s first head coaching position, but he has been around the game his entire life. He played in middle school before moving to wrestling at Shady Spring High School. He graduated in 1987 and was a member of the Class AA/A national team coached by Hall of Famers Dix Manning and Larry Snuffer.
“They really left an impression on me,” Harmon said.
Harmon’s three sons, Scott, Aaron and Will, all play football for the Tigers.
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“This will be my first official coaching position, but I’m definitely not a greenhorn at this,” Harmon said. “My guys have all played different positions, which has allowed me to get a feel for what they have to do on the field, so I know what’s going on with the linemen and the wideouts and the punters.”
Harmon said Ted Green, currently the assistant boys basketball coach under Arvon, will serve as the offensive coordinator. The defensive coordinator will be Mike Patterson.
Harmon said he and his son Will will manage special teams.
The Crusaders will open on August 28 in Van, contract pending. Van had to pull the plug on his 2025 season due to a lack of players and, like Greater Beckley, is trying to rebuild the program. Van would make the trip back, probably in October.
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Which leads to the Crusaders playing their home games. The hope is to play at Mount Hope’s famed Municipal-Lonnie Warwick Stadium, but Harmon said that is not yet official.
“We have a meeting in June with the Mayor and City Council to request permission to play our home games at the Mount Hope fields,” he said.
