Walt Harris (American football coach)

Walter William Harris (born November 9, 1946) is a former American football player and coach. Harris served as the head football coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California from 1989 to 1991, the University of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2004, and at Stanford University from 2005 to 2006, compiling a career college football record of 69–85.[1]

This article is about the defensive back and coach. For the Baltimore Ravens player, see Walt Harris (cornerback). For other uses, see Walter Harris.
Walt Harris
Biographical details
Born (1946-11-09) November 9, 1946
South San Francisco, California, U.S.
Playing career
1964–1965College of San Mateo
1966–1967Pacific (CA)
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1970El Camino HS (CA)
1971–1973Pacific (CA) (DB)
1974–1977California (LB)
1978Air Force (DB)
1978–1979Michigan State (LB)
1980–1982Illinois (QB)
1983–1988Tennessee (OC/QB)
1989–1991Pacific (CA)
1992–1994New York Jets (QB)
1995–1996Ohio State (QB)
1997–2004Pittsburgh
2005–2006Stanford
2009Akron (QB)
2010California (PA) (OC)
Head coaching record
Overall69–85
Bowls2–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Big East (2004)
Awards
2× Big East Coach of the Year (1997, 2004)
AFCA Region I coach of the year (2002)

Playing and coaching career

Harris attended El Camino High School in South San Francisco, California. Harris received a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master's degree in 1969 from the University of the Pacific, where he played college football as a defensive back. One of his coaches was Buddy Ryan.[2]

His first college coaching position was as the defensive backs coach at Pacific, and the first recruit he signed was Pete Carroll.[3] After a series of brief stops coaching defense that included a year as the defensive backs coach for Bill Parcells at Air Force, Harris had a career breakthrough when Mike White hired him as a quarterbacks coach at Illinois where he helped develop Dave Wilson, Tony Eason and Jack Trudeau, each of whom would go on to play in the NFL.[4] He was then hired as the offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee under Johnny Majors, helping the Volunteers win four of five bowl games while he was there.

In 1989, he received his first head coaching opportunity at his alma mater Pacific, where he assembled a staff that included future National Football League head coaches Jon Gruden and Hue Jackson. Coincidentally his first game as a head coach was a 38-3 loss against his future team, the Pitt Panthers.[5]

After three years coaching Pacific, Harris moved on to the NFL where he was the quarterbacks coach for the New York Jets from 1992 to 1994. A noted quarterback tutor, he helped Boomer Esiason return to form and earn a trip to the 1993 Pro Bowl.

He then spent two years as the quarterbacks coach at Ohio State working with future pro quarterbacks Bobby Hoying, Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson.

Pittsburgh

Harris was hired to take over for his former mentor Johnny Majors as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 1997, where the Pittsburgh Panthers football program was in decline. They had averaged just three wins per season over the previous five years and were coming off a 1996 season in which they had been outscored 266-13 in games against West Virginia, Ohio State, Miami, Syracuse and Notre Dame. He eventually led Pitt to five consecutive bowl games.

In 1997 the Panthers saw an immediate turnaround under Harris, who won Big East Coach of the Year honors. Pitt went to the Liberty Bowl, their first postseason game since 1989. The season included a nationally televised upset win on homecoming night against #21 Miami,[6] another upset win over #15 Virginia Tech, and a triple overtime victory over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl.

Pitt would post back-to-back losing seasons as they rebuilt in 1998 and 1999. The highlight of the 1999 season was a 37-27 win over Notre Dame in the final game at Pitt Stadium.[7]

2000

The 2000 season would see the Panthers finish 7-5 and included a 12-0 shutout win over Penn State[8] in the final game between the two rivals until 2016. They lost the Insight.com Bowl to Iowa State.[9] Wide receiver Antonio Bryant won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's outstanding receiver.[10]

2001

In 2001 the Panthers overcame a 1-5 start to finish the season with a six game winning streak and a win over NC State in the Tangerine Bowl[11] for their second straight 7-5 finish.

2002

In 2002, Pitt would achieve their first top-25 ranking in 11 years[12] after an upset of unbeaten, #3 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.[13] They finished 9-4 after beating Oregon State, 38–13, in the Insight Bowl and ended the season ranked 19th. That year, Harris won the American Football Coaches Foundation (AFCA) Region I Coach of the Year.

2003

The Panthers began 2003 with high expectations. Prior to the season The Sporting News named the Pitt coaching staff the third best in the country.[2] Pitt was ranked as high as 9th in the AP poll before a shocking loss to Toledo. They did upset #5 Virginia Tech to keep their hopes of winning the Big East alive before losses to Miami and West Virginia eliminated those hopes. They finished the season 8–5 but would drop out of the top-25 altogether after losing to Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl. Larry Fitzgerald became the second Pitt wide receiver in four years to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award under the tutelage of Walt Harris. After the season Fitzgerald would become the 3rd overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

2004

After a 2-2 start to the 2004 season which saw the Panthers need overtime to defeat FCS opponent Furman, the team would rally to close out the regular season on a three game winning streak that included victories over Notre Dame and West Virginia. Pitt would finish the regular season ranked 19th with a record of 8-3 and win their first-ever conference championship (they had been an independent until 1991). They also earned the first Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game in school history, and their first major bowl appearance in 21 years, when they were invited to the Fiesta Bowl to face undefeated #5 Utah. Harris won the Big East Coach of the Year award for the second time.[3]

Departure from Pitt

After seeing a handful of top recruits slip away on signing day in part because of their doubts over the Pitt athletic department's commitment to Harris,[14] he spent much of 2004 seeking a contract extension with Pitt. His already uneasy relationship with the athletic department would deteriorate further when his agent took the unusual step of publicly pressuring the university to give his client a new contract and making comments critical of Pitt.[15] Harris met one final time with the athletic department prior to the Fiesta Bowl but was denied an extension despite the team's accomplishments. Shortly after that meeting Harris was offered the head coaching position at Stanford and accepted.[16] Many of his Pitt players considered the move to essentially be a firing.[17] After accepting the Stanford job, Harris chose to coach the Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl where they lost to Utah 35-7 in his final game with Pitt. One final twist in the unusual breakup came when Harris, almost immediately after joining Stanford, fired the agent who had criticized Pitt.[18]

He left with a record of 52-44 and the third-most games, fourth-most wins, and the most bowl appearances in school history[19] and was replaced by former NFL coach and Pitt alum Dave Wannstedt.[20]

2005

In his first season as head coach at Stanford Harris posted a record of 5–6, including a 20-17 loss at home to UC Davis of the Great West Conference.

2006

In his second season as head coach the team posted a 1–11 record, the school's worst since going 0–10 in 1960.[21] In a game against UCLA on October 1, 2006 Harris called for his quarterback to punt on 3rd down. Although the punt by Trent Edwards travelled 53 yards and pinned the Bruins at their own 13 yard line, Harris was heavily criticized for the decision in a 31-0 loss.[22] He was fired on December 4, 2006, two days after Stanford's regular season ended. By the end of his tenure at Stanford, Harris had surpassed Jack Curtice with the lowest winning percentage in the history of Stanford football, with a .261 mark.[23]

Akron

In February 2009 he joined the University of Akron coaching staff as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, but the team struggled and head coach J. D. Brookhart lost his job at the end of the year.

California (PA)

In April 2010, Harris became the offensive coordinator at California University of Pennsylvania. He was replaced after one season and reportedly turned down an offer to join the coaching staff at Colorado.[24]

Coaching style

Despite playing as a defensive back at Pacific and beginning his coaching career on defense, he eventually established himself as an offensive-minded coach. Harris primarily used a variation of the West Coast offense throughout his career.[25]

At Pitt, he developed a string of highly successful wide receivers including Latef Grim, Antonio Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, and Greg Lee which led to the Panthers gaining a reputation as "Wide Receiver U."[26]

Harris has been viewed by some players as difficult to work with. One article about his departure from Stanford called him a "disciplinarian" and reported that a player briefly quit the team in protest of his coaching style.[21]

Harris also has a questionable history of play calling and game management. Hosting #20 Texas A&M in 2002, Pitt was penalized on back-to-back snaps during an extra point attempt for using a player with an ineligible jersey number. After the penalties the Panthers missed the extra point, which proved costly as they found themselves needing a two-point conversion to tie the game after a late touchdown. The conversion was unsuccessful and Pitt lost the game 14-12.[27] In 2004 Harris had both of his quarterbacks, Tyler Palko and Joe Flacco, punt on third down and long in the same game in a loss to Nebraska.[28] Harris was also criticized after the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl for under-utilizing Heisman Trophy runner-up and eventual third overall NFL draft pick Larry Fitzgerald.

Personal life

After coaching Stanford, Harris moved back to the Pittsburgh area.  He has been known to attend Pitt games and practices.  He was an honorary captain for Pitt's 2016 game against Penn State.[29]  In 2018 Harris, along with Johnny Majors, were made the honorary coaches for Pitt's annual Blue-Gold game.[30]

He has three children.[31]


Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Pacific Tigers (Big West Conference) (1989–1991)
1989 Pacific 2–102–5T–6th
1990 Pacific 4–72–56th
1991 Pacific 5–74–34th
Pacific: 11–248–13
Pittsburgh Panthers (Big East Conference) (1997–2004)
1997 Pittsburgh 6–64–3T–3rdL Liberty
1998 Pittsburgh 2–90–78th
1999 Pittsburgh 5–62–5T–6th
2000 Pittsburgh 7–54–3T–3rdL Insight.com
2001 Pittsburgh 7–54–3T–3rdW Tangerine
2002 Pittsburgh 9–45–23rdW Insight1819
2003 Pittsburgh 8–55–23rdL Continental Tire
2004 Pittsburgh 8–44–2T–1stL Fiesta†25
Pittsburgh: 52–4428–27
Stanford Cardinal (Pacific-10 Conference) (2005–2006)
2005 Stanford 5–64–4T–4th
2006 Stanford 1–111–810th
Stanford: 6–175–12
Total:69–85
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Coaching Tree

The following coaches were assistants for Walt Harris who went on to become NCAA and/or NFL head coaches (list may be incomplete):

Dino Babers

J. D. Brookhart

Curt Cignetti

Jon Gruden

Nathaniel Hackett

Hue Jackson

Ben McAdoo

Joe Moorhead

Paul Rhoads

References
  1. Cook, Ron (September 28, 2008). "Harris not bitter over days at Pitt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  2. "Walt Harris: Ohio State Football Bio". Buckeye Rosters. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  3. Smith, Michelle (November 4, 2005). "REUNITED AS RIVALS / Carroll, Harris meet as coaches on opposite sidelines". sfgate.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  4. "American Football Monthly - The Scouting Report". www.americanfootballmonthly.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. "Pitt opens at home with Pacific - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  6. By (September 19, 1997). "PITTSBURGH PULLS SHOCKER ON MIAMI". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. "Notre Dame Notre Dame/Pittsburgh Pittsburgh College Football recap on ESPN". www.espn.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  8. "Football Squad Shuts Out Penn State, 12-0". Pitt Panthers #H2P. September 16, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. "College Bowls 2000". www.espn.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  10. "Antonio Bryant Receives Biletnikoff Award". Pitt Panthers #H2P. December 8, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  11. "Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl: N.C. State vs. Pittsburgh". www.espn.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. "Temple 22-29 Pittsburgh (Nov 9, 2002) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  13. "Pittsburgh 28-21 Virginia Tech (Nov 2, 2002) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. Staff, Pitt News; GOLDMAN, BRIAN (February 5, 2004). "Football loses top recruits to Penn State, Miami". The Pitt News. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  15. "WALT HARRIS". Orlando Sentinel. November 13, 2004. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. "Pittsburgh's Harris accepts Stanford job". ESPN.com. December 13, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  17. "Second thoughts? Harris sad to leave Pitt". ESPN.com. December 21, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  18. Bendel, Joe (December 14, 2004). "Harris fires agent LaMonte". triblive.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  19. "Pitt Panthers Coaches". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  20. "Dave Wannstedt hired to coach Pitt - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  21. Maisel, Ivan (December 6, 2006). "Harris out as Cardinal coach following 1–11 season". ESPN. Stanford, California: Associated Press.
  22. "Stanford vs. UCLA Play-By-Play". ESPN.com.
  23. "Stanford 2009 Football Media Guide". Stanford University. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
  24. "Sources: Mike Kellar to replace Walt Harris as offensive coordinator at Cal U". January 3, 2011.
  25. Smith, Michelle (December 12, 2004). "Cardinal makes pitch for Harris / Stanford offers football post to Pittsburgh coach". sfgate.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  26. CardiacHill (June 18, 2014). "Is Pitt Wide Receiver U?". Cardiac Hill. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  27. "ESPN.com: NCF - Player's jersey number may have cost Pitt victory". www.espn.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  28. "Nebraska 24-17 Pittsburgh (Sep 18, 2004) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  29. sportsdesk; Writer, Dan Sostek / Senior Staff (September 9, 2016). "The last Pitt coach to beat PSU: Q&A with Walt Harris". The Pitt News. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  30. "Johnny Majors, Walt Harris to Serve as Spring Game Honorary Coaches". Pitt Panthers #H2P. April 11, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  31. "Walt Harris - Football Coach". California University of Pennsylvania Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
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