Curtis Harper joined the Valpo football coaching staff in 2023 as assistant defensive line coach. Harper was a defensive lineman at Syracuse, where he was a four-time honor roll member. After playing in 33 games over his final three seasons, Harper closed out his collegiate playing career with a season at Akron.

Harper completed a student-athlete tutor internship and an Akron football internship during his time in Ohio. The McKeesport, Pa. native earned degrees in communications & rhetorical studies (December 2020) and instructional design development & evaluation (December 2021) from Syracuse before going on to earn another degree in educational administration from Akron (December 2022).