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Georgia Southern University Athletics

Will Harris

Will Harris

Will Harris, who helped coach elite defenses on the University of Washington coaching staff, serves as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the Georgia Southern football program. He came to Statesboro after four successful seasons coaching Washington’s defensive backs, a group among the best in the country.

In 2022, his first year as a defensive coordinator, Harris led a young Eagle defense that posted 15 red zone stops, which was second in the FBS, and was in the top 20 nationally in red zone defense. Georgia Southern posted 11 interceptions and 65 pass break ups in the new system installed by Harris.

In 2021, Washington was the only Power 5 school with two cornerbacks to earn an 85+ grade from Pro Football Focus in Kyler Gordon and Trent McDuffie, who both earned first-team All-Pac 12 Conference honors. McDuffie also earned third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press after finishing the season with 35 tackles and six pass break-ups and was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. . According to PFF, McDuffie’s rating over a three-season span was the best in the Pac-12 Conference. Washington led the FBS in the fewest passing yards allowed (1,720), giving up a nation-low six touchdown passes while posting the third-best pass efficiency defense in the country. He was named one of the “50 Rising-Star Position Coaches You Need To Know” by On3.com.

The All-America honor marks the fourth year in a row that a Husky defensive back earned some level of All-America honors. Elijah Molden was a second-team selection in 2019 and 2020, while Byron Murphy and Taylor Rapp earned second-team honors in 2018. Not coincidentally, Harris coached the defensive backs those four seasons.

In his first season as Washington’s defensive backs coach (2020), Harris was part of helping the Huskies improve from No. 56 nationally in pass defense in 2019 (222.2 yards per game) to No. 13 nationally and No. 1 in the Pac-12 (184.9 yards per game). In 2020, Harris helped coach the top defense in the Pac-12 in terms of total defense and passing yards allowed. Among his defensive backs were first-team All-Pac-12 honoree Elijah Molden (Pro Football Focus’ Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year) and McDuffie, a second-team selection.

In 2019, Harris was an assistant defensive backs coach for UW and helped coach one of the strongest secondaries in the nation. A young group – three true freshmen who started at least five games each – played a high level. Molden earned first-team All-Pac-12, and senior Myles Bryant was a second-team selection. Despite the youth, the Huskies posted the No. 15 best scoring defense in the country, giving up less than 20 points per game.

In his first season in Seattle, Harris helped coach a defense that finished first in the Pac-12 in scoring and total defense for the fourth year in a row. The Huskies allowed just 16.4 points (fifth-best in the FBS) and 306.2 yards (12th best in the FBS) per game and were also in the top two in pass defense (both in terms of yards and efficiency) and rush defense.

More specifically, Harris helped coach a secondary that featured two All-America players: safety Taylor Rapp and Byron Murphy, who earned first-team honors. Murphy was rated the top cornerback in the country by PFF College. Both earned first-team All-Pac-12, while Bryant and Molden (as a special teamer) both made the second team. Senior safety Jojo McIntosh was an honorable mention all-conference selection.

Harris came to the UW after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons at San Jose State coaching the defensive backs. In 2017, Harris’ secondary at SJSU included three senior starters, two of whom were invited to play in postseason, senior all-star games.

In 2016, his first season with the Spartans, he coached two All-Mountain West defensive backs. Cornerback Andre Chachere was a first-team all-conference choice and finished fourth nationally in passes defended. Safety Maurice McKnight was an honorable mention selection. Between his two seasons at SJSU, he participated in the National Football League’s summer internship coaching program with the Oakland Raiders.

Harris spent the 2015 season as defensive backs coach at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. He coached defensive Colton Olson to First-Team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors in his lone season with the Trailblazers.

He began his coaching in 2013 as the defensive backs coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and was in a similar capacity at Humboldt State University in 2014. While at Humboldt State, he also served as the special teams coordinator. The Lumberjacks ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense and No. 19 in pass defense. Three Humboldt defensive backs earned All-GNAC honors.

Harris also served as an assistant coach with the Snoop League Youth Football Organization in the spring of 2013. Founded by Calvin Broadus, better known as entertainment legend Snoop Dogg, the league helps young players through the teaching of character, integrity, discipline and teamwork gained through playing football.

In 2012-13, Harris assisted the staff at Fullerton College and Diamond Bar High School in southern California.

A highly-recruited athlete (league MVP in football and basketball) from Charter Oak High in Covina, California, Harris was a defensive back on five University of Southern California (USC) bowl teams. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection as a strong safety in 2009. Harris started his USC career in 2005, seeing time at cornerback as a true freshman. That season, USC went 12-1, losing only to Texas in a memorable Rose Bowl showdown.

After redshirting the 2006 season due to injury, Harris returned to the field in 2007, playing safety in 10 games, helping the Trojans to an 11-2 record, capped by a win over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. In 2008, he played in all 13 games on a Trojans squad that finished 12-1 and beat Penn State in the Rose Bowl, finishing No. 3 in the final AP top 25. As a senior in 2009, Harris started at safety, finishing the season with 69 tackles and four interceptions in Coach Pete Carroll’s final season with the Trojans.

After completing his collegiate playing career at USC, Harris spent some time in the Seattle Seahawks camp and played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

The 2010 USC graduate majored in American studies and ethnicity.

THE HARRIS FILE
Personal
Hometown: Pasadena, California
Born: Dec. 29, 1986 in Pasadena, Calif.
College: USC (2010)

Playing Experience
USC (2005-09)
Seattle Seahawks (2010)
Edmonton Eskimos (2010)

Coaching Experience
2022-: Georgia Southern (defensive coordinator/defensive backs)
2018-21: Washington (defensive backs)
2016-17: San Jose State (defensive backs)
2015: Dixie College (defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator)
2014: Humboldt State (defensive backs)
2013: Northwestern Oklahoma State (defensive backs)

College Bowl Experience
Coach
2022: Camellia (GS vs. Buffalo)
2019: Las Vegas (Washington vs. Boise State)
2018: Rose (Washington vs. Ohio State)
Player
2009: Emerald (USC vs. Boston College)
2008: Rose (USC vs. Penn State)
2007: Rose (USC vs. Illinois)
2006: Rose (USC vs. Michigan)
2005: BCS National Championship/Rose (USC vs. Texas)

Prominent Pupils
Andre Chachere (CB): Philadelphia Eagles
Jermaine Kelly (CB): Houston Texans
Trent McDuffie (CB): Kansas City Chiefs
Elijah Molden (CB): Tennessee Titans
Byron Murphy Jr. (CB): Arizona Cardinals
Taylor Rapp (CB): Los Angeles Rams
Keith Taylor (CB): Carolina Panthers