Jake Nulph enters his fourth year as the defensive coordinator for the Titans in 2017.
In 2016, the Titans were first in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in scoring defense, only allowing 16.6 points per game, and led the conference in total defense, holding teams to 288.1 yards per contest. Westminster was also first in pass defense (169.1 yds./game) and second in rushing defense (119.0 yds./game). The team’s total defense mark ranked 19th in the NCAA, while its scoring defense stood 24th.
In 2015, Westminster’s defense ranked first in the PAC and 11th in the NCAA in total defense giving up 257 yards per game and led the conference and was 23rd in the nation in scoring defense allowing 16.7 points per game. The 184 points allowed were the fewest by the Titan defense since 2001.
Nulph was previously the co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Division I St. Francis University for one season and held other positions since 2010.
At St. Francis, Nulph co-coordinated the defense, which finished 10th in the FCS, and coordinated a top-25 special teams unit to the best record in SFU’s history in back to back seasons as a FCS institution. During his four years at SFU, Nulph coached 10 All-NEC performers and one NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Nulph also mentored kick-returner Kyle Harbridge, who earned the 2013 College Football Performance Awards Elite All-Purpose Award; Harbridge is the first Saint Francis player to earn postseason honors from College Football Performance Awards.
In 2011, in his first season as defensive coordinator, Nulph tutored then sophomore linebacker Anthony Bowman to College Madness Second-Team All-America honors, who tallied 141 tackles. Nulph’s defense, which featured just one upperclassman, generated 18 total turnovers. In two seasons working with the SFU linebackers, Nulph has helped two student-athletes finish in the top-10 nationally in tackles. Nulph was instrumental in helping engineer SFU’s 27-13 victory against the 2010 NEC Co-Champion Central Connecticut State, holding the Blue Devils under 85 yards passing and just 13 points.
Under Nulph’s direction in 2010, senior linebackers Scott Lewis and Matthew Parker earned All-NEC honors. With his team leading 138 tackles in 2013, Lewis became the Northeast Conference’s all-time leader in tackles with 524. Both Lewis and Parker tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 13.5. Parker led the team with seven total sacks, as the Red Flash posted a 13-sack season.
Prior to his time at Saint Francis, Nulph worked with defensive backs and special teams at Allegheny College in 2009, and helped the Gators to an 8-2 record. Nulph also spent four years coaching at his alma mater Robert Morris. He began his career at Robert Morris in 2005, coaching the team’s running backs for two seasons. In 2007, Nulph took over the team’s quarterbacks, and in 2008 he moved to the other side of the ball, when he took over the Colonials’ safeties. Nulph tutored safety Mike Landers, a First-Team All-Northeast Conference performer, who ranked second in the NEC in interceptions (five) and added 74 tackles. Landers also recovered three fumbles and broke up 10 passes that season.
Prior to joining the RMU coaching staff, Nulph spent three seasons with the Colonials, two as a defensive back and one at quarterback, after transferring from Grove City. A two-year letterwinner with the Colonials, Nulph was a special teams captain in 2004.
Nulph graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Robert Morris in 2005, and received his masters in communication and information systems from Robert Morris in 2007. Nulph is a graduate of Apollo-Ridge High School where he led the Vikings to their only undefeated season in school history.
Nulph resides in Apollo, Pa. with his wife Angela.
