Michael Jasper

Michael Jasper
refer to caption
Jasper with the Buffalo Bills in 2011
Bethel Wildcats
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1986-10-08) October 8, 1986 (age 38)
Mount Juliet, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:375 lb (170 kg)
Career information
High school:Mount Juliet
College:Bethel (TN)
NFL draft:2011 / round: 7 / pick: 245
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Head coaching record
Regular season:40–19 (.678)
Postseason:1–2 (.333)
Career:41–21 (.661)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Leslie Michael Jasper (born October 8, 1986) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Bethel University, a position he has held since 2019. Jasper was selected by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft.[1] He played college football at Bethel as a defensive tackle and offensive guard. Jasper, during his college career, was extremely large even by defensive tackle standards, weighing approximately 450 pounds; he reduced his weight to 375 pounds at the behest of Bills coach Chan Gailey. As of the 2023 NFL draft, Jasper remains the most recent NFL draft selection from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Professional career

Buffalo Bills

Jasper was released prior to the start of the 2011 season in final cuts and was placed on the practice squad. The Bills activated Jasper on December 27, 2011 when tight end Mike Caussin was placed on the injured reserve list.[2] He was waived again by the Bills on August 13, 2012.

Tennessee Titans

Jasper was signed by the Tennessee Titans on August 15, 2012 but was waived shortly thereafter.

Omaha Nighthawks

The Nighthawks signed Jasper in September 2012, where he played both ways as a starter on the offensive line and as a nose tackle in the goal-line package on 3rd and 1 situations.

New York Giants

The Giants signed Jasper to a future contract for 2013. On August 25, 2013, he was cut by the Giants.[3]

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers signed Jasper to their practice squad on September 11, 2013 and then signed him as a free agent on January 14, 2014.[4]

Coaching career

From 2016 to 2018, Jasper was the offensive line coach at his alma mater, Bethel University.[5] On January 24, 2019, he was named Bethel's head football coach.[6]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA Coaches'#
Bethel Wildcats (Mid-South Conference) (2019–present)
2019 Bethel 5–6 2–5 T–6th (Bluegrass)
2020–21 Bethel 3–4 3–4 T–4th (Bluegrass)
2021 Bethel 7–4 4–3 T–3th (Bluegrass)
2022 Bethel 11–1 8–0 1st L NAIA First Round 4
2023 Bethel 11–2 5–1 2nd (Kessinger) L NAIA Quarterfinal 7
2024 Bethel 4–4 0–2 (Kessinger)
Bethel: 41–21 22–15
Total: 41–21
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ Jasper drafted by the Bills
  2. ^ "Bills promote OL Jasper; TE Caussin to I-R". Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 26, 2013). "LB Aaron Curry among players released". Giants.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  4. ^ "Carolina Panthers: Michael Jasper". Panthers.com. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "Bethel University - 2016 Football Coaches". www.bethelathletics.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "Bethel hires Mike Jasper as new head football coach". WBBJ TV. January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.