Walt Harris (born November 9, 1946 in South San Francisco, California) is an American football coach.
Most recently, Harris was the head coach of the football team at Stanford University. In his first season as head coach there he posted a record of 5-6. In his second season as head coach he posted a 1-11 record, the school's worst since going 0-10 in 1960. He was fired on December 4, 2006, two days after Stanford's regular season ended.
Before coming to Stanford, Harris was the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers for eight seasons (1997-2004). Harris resurrected a falling Pitt program that had won only 15 games in the previous five seasons. Harris took Pitt to bowl games in six of his eight seasons, including five consecutive bowl games from 2000 through 2004. Harris led Pittsburgh to the Big East Conference championship in 2004. Harris was named the Big East Conference coach of the year in 1997 and 2004, and he was the AFCA Region I coach of the year in 2002. Harris compiled an overall record of 52-44 at Pittsburgh.
Before coaching in Pittsburgh, Harris had an extensive coaching resume. Harris coached at Ohio State University (QB coach, 1995-96), the New York Jets (QB coach, 1992-94), the University of the Pacific (head coach, 1989-91), the University of Tennessee (offensive coordinator, 1983-88), the University of Illinois (QB coach, 1980-82), Michigan State University (linebacker coach, 1978-79), the United States Air Force Academy (secondary coach, spring 1978), the University of California, Berkeley (linebacker coach, 1974-77), the University of the Pacific (secondary, 1971-73), and El Camino High School in South San Francisco, California (1970).
Harris has a reputation as a good coach of quarterbacks and the passing game, with a background in the West Coast Offense. As a college coach, Harris has coached 14 quarterbacks who went on to the NFL. Harris coached two wide receivers at Pitt who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation -- Antonio Bryant (2000) and Larry Fitzgerald (2003). Harris was the QB coach for Ohio State when Terry Glenn won the Biletnikoff Award (1995). Harris also coached Boomer Esiason to a Pro Bowl season with the New York Jets in 1993. According to Esiason, "Walt Harris is right up there with the best. There's nobody better."
While his football prowess is unquestioned, Harris has been viewed by many player to be overbearing and 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. blank">http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2685975 Bryant claimed that one of the main reasons for not returning for a senior year at Pittsburgh was due to the fact that he would have to deal with Harris once again. USC Head Coach Pete Carroll's son, Brennan, played for Harris and reportedly used stories of Harris' coaching style to lure recruits away from Harris when Harris was coaching Pac-10 rival Stanford. However, when Harris left The University of Pittsburgh, quarterback _Tyler Palko was one of several players very outspoken about their desire to keep Harris in their program.
Harris received a bachelor's degree (1968) and a master's degree (1969) from the University of the Pacific, where he played college football. Harris attended El Camino High School in South San Francisco.
Walter Lee Harris (born August 10, 1974 in LaGrange, Georgia) is currently an American football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers. He went to Mississippi State University and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round (13th overall) in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears for six years and was then signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002. He then signed with Washington Redskins in 2004.
Harris signed with the 49ers in 2006, where he led the team with a career-high 8 interceptions.
He was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2006. Harris was also selected to represent the National Football Conference (NFC) in the 2007 Pro Bowl, in place of injured Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard.
Walt Harris (born November 9, 1946 in South San Francisco, California) is a football coach.
Most recently, Harris was the head coach of the football team at Stanford University. In his first season as head coach there he posted a record of 5-6. In his second season as head coach he posted a 1-11 record, the school's worst since going 0-10 in 1960. He was fired on December 4, 2006, two days after Stanford's regular season ended.
Before coming to Stanford, Harris was the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers for eight seasons (1997-2004). Harris resurrected a falling Pitt program that had won only 15 games in the previous five seasons. Harris took Pitt to bowl games in six of his eight seasons, including five consecutive bowl games from 2000 through 2004. Harris led Pittsburgh to the Big East Conference championship in 2004. Harris was named the Big East Conference coach of the year in 1997 and 2004, and he was the AFCA Region I coach of the year in 2002. Harris compiled an overall record of 52-44 at Pitt.
Before coaching in Pittsburgh, Harris had an extensive coaching resume. Harris coached at Ohio State University (QB coach, 1995-96), the New York Jets (QB coach, 1992-94), the University of the Pacific (head coach, 1989-91), the University of Tennessee (offensive coordinator, 1983-88), the University of Illinois (QB coach, 1980-82), Michigan State University (linebacker coach, 1978-79), the United States Air Force Academy (secondary coach, spring 1978), the University of California, Berkeley (linebacker coach, 1974-77), the University of the Pacific (secondary, 1971-73), and El Camino High School in South San Francisco, California (1970).
Harris has a reputation as a good coach of quarterbacks and the passing game. As a college coach, Harris has coached 14 quarterbacks who went on to the NFL. Harris coached two wide receivers at Pitt who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation -- Antonio Bryant (2000) and Larry Fitzgerald (2003). Harris was the QB coach for Ohio State when Terry Glenn won the Biletnikoff Award (1995). Harris also coached Boomer Esiason to a Pro Bowl season with the New York Jets in 1993. According to Esiason, "Walt Harris is right up there with the best. There's nobody better."
While his football prowess is unquestioned, Harris has been viewed by many player to be overbearing and 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. blank">http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2685975 Bryant claimed that one of the main reasons for not returning for a senior year at Pittsburgh was because he would have to deal with Harris once again. USC Head Coach Pete Carroll's son, Brennan, played for Harris and reportedly used stories of Harris' coaching style to lure recruits away from Harris when Harris was coaching Pac-10 rival Stanford. However, when Harris left The University of Pittsburgh, quarterback Tyler Palko was one of several players very outspoken about their desire to keep Harris in their program.
Harris also has a questionable history of play calling, particularly when it comes to his tenure at The University of Pittsburgh. In a controversial series of calls he had Tyler Palko quarterback punt on 3rd down a number of times in a 2004 game against Nebraska which the Panthers lost. Harris was also roundly criticized after 2003's _Continential Tire Bowl for refusing to throw to Heisman Trophy runner up and third overall NFL draft pick Larry Fitzgerald. The Panthers lost that game against an underdog University of Virginia team. He is also noted for such gafs as "The Slide," "The Spread," "The Swinging Gate," and for the quarterback carousel that ensued in his time with Pitt.
Harris received a bachelor's degree (1968) and a master's degree (1969) from the University of the Pacific, where he played college football. Harris attended El Camino High School in South San Francisco.
