Bio

Jacob Garcia – Defensive Ends Coach

Jacob Garcia joined the Graceland University football staff in 2026 as the Defensive Ends Coach, bringing a fast-rising track record of player development, defensive strategy, and recruiting across multiple levels of college football. At just 23 years old, Garcia has already established himself as one of the most energetic and innovative young coaches in the NAIA.

Prior to his current role, Garcia served as Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at Graceland, where he helped engineer a significant turnaround in the program’s run defense—cutting rushing yards allowed per game nearly in half from 268 to 147 in a single season. His leadership in the front seven also played a key role in onboarding over 30 transfer student-athletes from NCAA and NAIA programs.

Garcia’s coaching résumé includes impactful stops at Central Methodist University and North American University. While at Central Methodist, he developed one of the most productive linebacking corps in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), guiding a player to a national lead in solo tackles and an AP All-American honor. He was instrumental in implementing diverse coverage schemes and managing defensive scout team operations.

At North American University, Garcia led the defensive line to finish #1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference in tackles for loss (TFLs), while also serving as Recruiting Coordinator. His responsibilities ranged from defensive front installation to overseeing all recruiting logistics, including the creation of over 1,000 personalized recruiting graphics. Garcia also has experience managing equipment operations and coordinating official visits across Texas and the Southeast.

Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North American University. A Texas native, he continues to leverage his strong regional recruiting ties and technical knowledge to develop high-character, high-performance defensive athletes.