Prep Football: Roper resigns at Harrisburg

Citing personal reasons, Harrisburg head football coach Jason Roper has resigned from the Bulldog program.

Roper, who was in his ninth year, went 48-42 in his tenure that included six playoff berths, four Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Ohio Division championships and last appeared in the playoffs in a 2012 Class 4A semifinal loss at Rochester.

In a statement, Roper said: "It's been a privilege to be the head coach at Harrisburg High School the last nine years, but at this time in my life, I have an overwhelming desire to be the best father I can be and because of that reason, I'm resigning as head coach from Harrisburg High School."

Roper took over for Al Way after the 2005 season in which the Bulldogs were 9-2.

Harrisburg went 5-5 in Roper's first season in 2006. The Bulldogs enjoyed three winning seasons (2009, 6-4; 2010, 7-3; 2012, 11-2).

The Bulldogs ended this season on a four-game losing streak, starting with Benton (13-9) Week 6 and followed up with consecutive losses to Murphysboro (42-7), Herrin (63-21) and Carbondale (35-20). The Bulldogs' two wins this season came against West Frankfort (21-12) and Massac County (35-14).

Harrisburg last made the playoffs two years ago and under Roper are 3-6 in the postseason. The Bulldogs finished the 2014 campaign 2-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

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Harrisburg

2006 5-5

2007 3-6

2008 5-5

2009 6-4

2010 7-3

2011 5-5

2012 11-2

2013 4-5

2014 2-7