Football
Howe, Tom
Tom Howe
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (DE)
- Email:
- howete@sfasu.edu
- Phone:
- 468-3502
Tom Howe begins his fifth season on the SFA coaching staff, taking on the responsibility of the Lumberjacks’ entire defensive line prior to the 2017 season after leading the defensive end corps for three years. He also serves as a co-special teams coordinator, handling SFA’s punt returns since the 2016 season and the Lumberjacks’ punting beginning in 2017.
Year after year, SFA’s defensive line proves to be one of the strongest in the Southland Conference as Howe has developed some of the best defensive ends in school history. The 2017 season proved to be no different with senior defensive end John Franklin bursting onto the national scene and catching the attention of many NFL scouts. With Howe leading the defensive front, SFA ranked fifth in the league in red zone defense as opponents scored less than 80 percent of time when reaching the Lumberjacks’ 20-yard line. With a strong defensive attack at the line of scrimmage, SFA allowed just 210 passing yards per game in conference play to finish fifth in the Southland in that category.
Under the tutelage of coach Howe, two defensive linemen claimed All-Southland honors following the Lumberjacks’ 2017 campaign. Franklin was named to the second team for the second time in his career while junior defensive tackle Lamont Alexander was tabbed All-Southland honorable mention. Franklin was chosen 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming SFA’s 33rd NFL Draft pick and the first since 2011. The 15th defensive end taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, Franklin became the Lumberjacks’ highest pick in 20 years. Franklin completed his collegiate career fifth on SFA's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 over four seasons, while finishing ninth in program history in all-time career sacks (17.5). He posted a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss for negative 46 yards and dished out a team-high 3.5 sacks for a loss of 24 yards in his final season in Nacogdoches. Alexander was one of four defensive players to start every game of the season, registering the second-most sacks on the team (2.5), claiming the third-most tackles for loss (6) and recovering a fumble.
With Howe overseeing the Lumberjacks’ punting in 2017, SFA ranked 25th nationally in net punting and third in the Southland as junior Caleb Lewallen was one of the best punters in the league with the seventh-highest punting average (39.1 yards per punt). Even more impressively, Howe’s punt return defense ranked 19th in the nation and second in the conference as SFA gave up just 4.71 yards per punt return and only 66 total yards.
The Lumberjacks' defensive ends proved to be one of the nation's best in 2016 with SFA ranking in the top 30 nationally in both tackles for loss (81) and sacks (35). The unit produced a pair of All-Southland performers in Franklin and Kedrick Harrison as the duo ranked among the league leaders in a handful of categories. Harrison led the conference in both tackles for loss (17) and sacks (10.5), while Franklin ranked fourth in each category (14.5 and 8) and was among the national leaders in both forced fumbles (4) and quarterback hurries (9).
Arguably few positions on the field were as effective for the Lumberjacks as were the defensive ends during the 2015 season with Franklin leading the team in tackles for loss (8.5), sacks (6.0) and quarterback hurries (5), en route to claiming All-Southland Second Team accolades. Franklin was aided by veterans Kedrick Harrison and Mitchel Zimmerle, who combined for 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks.
The defensive end group was a key force for SFA’s defensive unit in 2014 as the ‘Jacks held opponents to 186.6 rushing yards and 222 passing yards per game in their run to the FCS playoffs. Anchored by senior Ishmiah Miles and junior Kedrick Harrison, the duo combined for 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as SFA ranked among the nation’s top 20 in both categories.
Before arriving in Texas’ oldest town, Howe spent two seasons at Central Oklahoma, serving as the Bronchos’ special teams coordinator and linebacker coach. Prior to his time in Edmond, Oklahoma, Howe was at Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) rival Missouri Southern, overseeing the Lions’ defensive line in 2011.
In 2010, Howe served as the outside linebackers and defensive line coach at Minnesota-Duluth, helping guide the Bulldogs to a 15-0 record and a NCAA Division II national title. UMD led the nation in fewest points allowed, while ranking among the national leaders in three other defensive categories.
Prior to his stint in Minnesota, Howe spent three seasons assisting with Iowa State’s offensive line from 2007-09. He began his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant coach at Clinton High School, his high school alma mater in Clinton, Iowa, before serving as a graduate assistant at Minot State and Drake, his undergraduate alma mater.
A three-year letter winner at Drake, Howe earned all-conference second-team honors before attaining his bachelor’s degree from Drake and his master’s degree from Iowa State. Howe is married to the former Kara DeShaw and the two have a two-year old son, Declan, and welcomed a daughter, Emerson, in the spring of 2018.
The Howe File
Hometown: Clinton, Iowa
High School: Clinton
College: Drake (2004); Iowa State
Playing Experience: Three-year letter winner at Drake, claimed all-conference second-team honors
Family: Kara (wife), Declan (son), Emerson (daughter)
Coaching Experience
2014-Present: Stephen F. Austin | Defensive Ends/Defensive Line/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
2012-13: Central Oklahoma | Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2011: Missouri Southern | Defensive Line
2010: Minnesota-Duluth | Defensive Line/Linebackers
2007-09: Iowa State | Offensive Line
2006: Drake | Graduate Assistant
2005: Minot State | Graduate Assistant
2004: Clinton H.S. (Iowa) | Assistant Coach
Year after year, SFA’s defensive line proves to be one of the strongest in the Southland Conference as Howe has developed some of the best defensive ends in school history. The 2017 season proved to be no different with senior defensive end John Franklin bursting onto the national scene and catching the attention of many NFL scouts. With Howe leading the defensive front, SFA ranked fifth in the league in red zone defense as opponents scored less than 80 percent of time when reaching the Lumberjacks’ 20-yard line. With a strong defensive attack at the line of scrimmage, SFA allowed just 210 passing yards per game in conference play to finish fifth in the Southland in that category.
Under the tutelage of coach Howe, two defensive linemen claimed All-Southland honors following the Lumberjacks’ 2017 campaign. Franklin was named to the second team for the second time in his career while junior defensive tackle Lamont Alexander was tabbed All-Southland honorable mention. Franklin was chosen 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming SFA’s 33rd NFL Draft pick and the first since 2011. The 15th defensive end taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, Franklin became the Lumberjacks’ highest pick in 20 years. Franklin completed his collegiate career fifth on SFA's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 over four seasons, while finishing ninth in program history in all-time career sacks (17.5). He posted a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss for negative 46 yards and dished out a team-high 3.5 sacks for a loss of 24 yards in his final season in Nacogdoches. Alexander was one of four defensive players to start every game of the season, registering the second-most sacks on the team (2.5), claiming the third-most tackles for loss (6) and recovering a fumble.
With Howe overseeing the Lumberjacks’ punting in 2017, SFA ranked 25th nationally in net punting and third in the Southland as junior Caleb Lewallen was one of the best punters in the league with the seventh-highest punting average (39.1 yards per punt). Even more impressively, Howe’s punt return defense ranked 19th in the nation and second in the conference as SFA gave up just 4.71 yards per punt return and only 66 total yards.
The Lumberjacks' defensive ends proved to be one of the nation's best in 2016 with SFA ranking in the top 30 nationally in both tackles for loss (81) and sacks (35). The unit produced a pair of All-Southland performers in Franklin and Kedrick Harrison as the duo ranked among the league leaders in a handful of categories. Harrison led the conference in both tackles for loss (17) and sacks (10.5), while Franklin ranked fourth in each category (14.5 and 8) and was among the national leaders in both forced fumbles (4) and quarterback hurries (9).
Arguably few positions on the field were as effective for the Lumberjacks as were the defensive ends during the 2015 season with Franklin leading the team in tackles for loss (8.5), sacks (6.0) and quarterback hurries (5), en route to claiming All-Southland Second Team accolades. Franklin was aided by veterans Kedrick Harrison and Mitchel Zimmerle, who combined for 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks.
The defensive end group was a key force for SFA’s defensive unit in 2014 as the ‘Jacks held opponents to 186.6 rushing yards and 222 passing yards per game in their run to the FCS playoffs. Anchored by senior Ishmiah Miles and junior Kedrick Harrison, the duo combined for 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as SFA ranked among the nation’s top 20 in both categories.
Before arriving in Texas’ oldest town, Howe spent two seasons at Central Oklahoma, serving as the Bronchos’ special teams coordinator and linebacker coach. Prior to his time in Edmond, Oklahoma, Howe was at Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) rival Missouri Southern, overseeing the Lions’ defensive line in 2011.
In 2010, Howe served as the outside linebackers and defensive line coach at Minnesota-Duluth, helping guide the Bulldogs to a 15-0 record and a NCAA Division II national title. UMD led the nation in fewest points allowed, while ranking among the national leaders in three other defensive categories.
Prior to his stint in Minnesota, Howe spent three seasons assisting with Iowa State’s offensive line from 2007-09. He began his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant coach at Clinton High School, his high school alma mater in Clinton, Iowa, before serving as a graduate assistant at Minot State and Drake, his undergraduate alma mater.
A three-year letter winner at Drake, Howe earned all-conference second-team honors before attaining his bachelor’s degree from Drake and his master’s degree from Iowa State. Howe is married to the former Kara DeShaw and the two have a two-year old son, Declan, and welcomed a daughter, Emerson, in the spring of 2018.
The Howe File
Hometown: Clinton, Iowa
High School: Clinton
College: Drake (2004); Iowa State
Playing Experience: Three-year letter winner at Drake, claimed all-conference second-team honors
Family: Kara (wife), Declan (son), Emerson (daughter)
Coaching Experience
2014-Present: Stephen F. Austin | Defensive Ends/Defensive Line/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
2012-13: Central Oklahoma | Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2011: Missouri Southern | Defensive Line
2010: Minnesota-Duluth | Defensive Line/Linebackers
2007-09: Iowa State | Offensive Line
2006: Drake | Graduate Assistant
2005: Minot State | Graduate Assistant
2004: Clinton H.S. (Iowa) | Assistant Coach
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