Will Harris has Big Expectations for Florida Gators Secondary

New Florida Gators secondary coach Will Harris discusses his decision to move from the LA Chargers the college ranks.

New Florida Gators secondary coach Will Harris is tagged with upgrading a pass defense that finished 70th in NCAA Football last season.

Harris has an impressive resume including successful stints with the Washington Huskies and most recently, the LA Chargers.

From Seattle to LA to Gainesville is quite a haul. How did the opportunity to coach the Gators come up?

"Being with the Chargers, I was with a guy named Derrick Ansley who worked with Billy Napier twice," said Harris. "Once has GA's together at Alabama, and once coming back as position coaches. DA called him and said 'I've got a guy you may be interested in.' I grew up watching Florida. I look at it as a challenge."

Harris doesn't feel doing from the NFL to the SEC is a step backwards, something many fans in the south would agree with.

"I know everybody asks 'Hey, why take this job coming out of the NFL?' Let's be real. If you want some excitement, this is what it's about. We get to play some of the best teams in the country.

"Who don't want that?

"I look at it as a challenge, and the understanding I've got the group to get it done. We've just gotta go do it."

Harris got a strong recommendation from Ansley on Napier as well.

"Love him," Harris said with a smile. "For me the biggest is I'm a family man. I believe in having a family and having that family time. I get it, you gotta work, you gotta grind. But just understanding that his faith is real. So, similar things that we've talked about in the interview that set it off for me. I was just like 'Yup. I definitely want to make sure that we get this thing right for him.'"

Harris isn't downplaying expectations for his secondary heading into 2024. Coming off a 5-7 record that saw Florida drop its last five games in a row, that's music to the ears of Gator Country.