Hometown hero rebuilding the RiverHawks
TALEQUAH, Okla. — The name Coach Eckert is not a new one to RiverHawks fans. Head Coach J. J. Eckert is the son of former head coach Tom Eckert. And, it’s not the first time J. J. Eckert has been on the football field at Northeastern State University. He spent a large part of his collegiate athletic career at Gable Field.
In 1993, J. J. Eckert earned honors as a Tulsa World All-Stater as a Tahlequah High School native. He had his sights set on playing for the University of Miami, but instead, he just crossed the state line to play for the University of Central Arkansas Bears in Conway, Arkansas. During the second game of that season, he suffered a knee injury that kept him on the sidelines. The following year, he transferred to NSU to play under his dad’s leadership. His athletic prowess led him to be a four-year letter winner at Northeastern State. He racked up accolades as quarterback for NSU and led them to success as 1994 NAIA National Champions and the 1995 NAIA Runner-Up.
According to a 1995 Tulsa World article, the young J. J. Eckert wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a coach. After earning his coaching credentials along with his Bachelor of Education in Health and Physical Education and Masters of Science in College Teaching, he worked as NSU’s quarterback and receivers coach in 1998 and 1999. He moved on from there to work as the offensive coordinator at Kilgore College from 2001-2004. With another move up the career ladder, he stepped into his first head coaching position at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. He led his team to their successful seasons. They earned a trip to the Dixie Rotary Bowl.
He spent two seasons in Kansas before returning to Kilgore College to take over the head coaching position in 2007. His success at Kilgore College earned him recognition as the 2018 SWJCFC Coach of the Year. His team garnered a win at the Heart of Texas Bowl securing the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Championship. The Rangers participated in five postseason bowl games and were regional champions in 2015 and 2018. During his 12 seasons at Kilgore, his record ranks him as runner up to the coach with the most wins in the program’s history.
The move back to Tahlequah to accept the head coaching position at NSU brought Coach J. J. Eckert full circle. His goal of following in his father’s footsteps was achieved when he stepped into the role as head coach at Doc Wadley Stadium. When NSU Director of Athletics Tony Duckworth and NSU President Dr. Steve Turner were looking for a new head coach, they had specific qualifications that they were looking for. They were looking for a winning coach with proven success, someone with Oklahoma ties, and someone who would actually get out on the field as a coach and be heavily involved and connected to the student athletes. According to Byron Beers’ article for the Tahlequah Daily Press, “J. J. is without question a popular pick around the community, and a splash hire for NSU Director of Athletics Tony Duckworth.”
J.J. Eckert is a hometown hero, and he is working to rescue the athletic program that was a dominating force under his father’s coaching leadership. Although the 2020 Covid season sidelined the players from having playing time on the field, Coach Eckert’s work ethic didn’t sideline them from working in the weightroom. According to a Muskogee Phoenix article Eckert said, “We were able to get in the weightroom and get bigger, faster, and stronger, and that’s a huge piece in this physical conference, the MIAA.”
Coach Eckert and his staff has worked to recruit and build a culture that is unique to Northeastern State University. “I think the big thing is making sure you’re continuing to recruit the student athletes that you need to be competitive in this conference,” Eckert said in an article by Byron Beers. Coach Eckert’s track record for winning raises the RiverHawk Nation’s expectations for game day events at the new Landing at Gable Field.
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