Harris started small, serving as an assistant at Fullerton (Calif.) College and Diamond Bar High School. From there, Harris' unusual journey took him from assistant jobs at Northwestern Oklahoma State, Humboldt (Calif.) State, Dixie State in Utah, and San Jose State.
He landed at a Power Five school in 2018 when he was hired as defensive backs coach at Washington, where Harris spent the next four seasons. He served the 2022 season on former USC coach Clay Helton's staff at Georgia Southern as defensive coordinator and returned to his native California as assistant secondary coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in April.
The 36-year-old Harris was in his first season with the Chargers when the Gators came calling following the dismissal of cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond two weeks ago. Harris finished his time with the Chargers in Sunday's 24-7 home loss to the Broncos.
He did his best work at Washington coaching the secondary. The Huskies ranked among the best pass defenses in the Pac-12 during Harris' time in Seattle and, in 2021, surrendered only six touchdown passes and 1,720 yards, which ranked the best among FBS programs.
Two of his pupils on the 2021 Huskies team were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft: cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (Chiefs, 21st overall) and Kyler Gordon (Bears, 39th).
Harris has traveled far from the path of a firefighter.
"I was in Stage 3 in the L.A. Fire Department, and that's a long process,'' Harris told the Chargers' website. "So, at the time, I'm like running out of money, so I'm like, 'What am I going to do?' Started training, and then next thing you know, that training turned into coaching, and then it took off."
Harris grew up in Southern California and starred at Covina Charter Oak High School, where he was a standout safety and played every skill position on offense his senior season. He was also a two-time MVP of the basketball team and an all-area selection in track and field as a high jumper and long jumper.
The late Lou Farrar, who at the time of his death in 2019 ranked sixth all-time in the California high school record books with 335 career wins, spent 39 years at Charter Oak. He told the Los Angeles Times in 2005 what kind of player he considered Harris.
"He's probably the best pure athlete I've coached,'' Farrar said. "The guy played a sport every day of his high school career."
While at USC, Harris did more than become buddies with Snoop Dogg. He contributed to a Trojans team that appeared in four consecutive Rose Bowls, including the 2005 BCS National Championship Game against Texas.
Harris maintains a close relationship with former USC coach Pete Carrolland will soon share everything he has learned on his coaching odyssey with the Gators.
Harris told the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News last year perhaps the most important lesson he has acquired along the way.
"Everybody wants to talk about money in this business," he said. "For me, it's never been about that. I got into this business, and I will never lose sight of why I got into it. It was because someone helped me, and he was a coach. So, I want to help these young men and see them live out their dreams."
He can share Snoop Dogg stories with them, too.
