New DB Coach Will Harris and What He Brings to Florida Gators Football
Will Harris is the new defensive backs coach for the Florida Gators. He details his core philosophy and what he wants to accomplish in Gainesville.
The Florida Gators hired Will Harris to be their defensive backs coach in 2024 to help elevate a pass defense that ranked 70th in the nation last year.
Harris has had a lot of success in the past revamping a team's secondary, including the Washington Huskies. According to his bio: In 2020, Harris helped 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). That year, he helped coach the top defense in the Pac-12 in terms of total defense and passing yards allowed.
For his part, Harris makes the success sound relatively simple. It's refreshing to hear in an age where coaches and media alike try to overcomplicate scheme.
“First and foremost, I felt like that group was really tight knit,” said Harris when asked about the success he had in Washington. “We were together for a long time. I always say we build connections. That’s what it’s about. It’s about connections and relationships and that’s when people run through walls for one another.
“I just think that group was really connected. You can throw all types of scheme out there. I believe communication breeds understanding. Our communication was on point at the time that year. Having the guys I had that went to the NFL, Trent McDuffie, Kyler Gordon, all those guys. Just bringing it here, we all meet together; stars, safeties and corners, we all meet together.
"Once we’re all on the same page, we’re all good. And if we’re not, you guys know what that turns into; that’s a touchdown. So that’s kinda one of the biggest things I’m bringing with these guys is the understanding that ‘hey, communication breeds understanding; we’ve all gotta be on the same page.’”
Harris isn't overly concerned with the scheme the Gators will be running under defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. He's comfortable in a variety of defenses.
"I’ve probably worked in every scheme or system you can probably work in just being with different D-coordinators,” said Harris. “But here, it’s very similar to the Alabama, Georgia type of scheme that we run. I’ve been familiar with it, so I’ve been able to pick up on it fairly quickly.”
Harris and the Gators will hope his secondary adjusts quickly as well and has a turnaround similar to what he experienced in Washington.