Football
Harris, Will
vs
Ohio State
Sep 27 (Sat)
TBA
Will Harris
- Title:
- Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
- Email:
- football@uw.edu
- Phone:
- (206) 543-2223
In 2021, Will Harris enters his fourth season on the Washington coaching staff. Following the 2019 season, head coach Jimmy Lake named Harris as the program's defensive backs coach.
In his first season in that role, Harris helped coach the top defense in the Pac-12, in terms of total defense and passing yards allowed. Among his defensive backs were first-team All-Pac-12 honoree Elijah Molden (who was Pro Football Focus' Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year) and second-team selection Trent McDuffie.
In 2019, Harris and Lake coached what continues to be one of the strongest secondaries in the nation. A young group β which included three true freshmen who started at least five games each β played a high level. Molden earned first-team All-Pac-12 and senior Myles Bryant was a second-team selection.
In his first season in Seattle, Harris helped coach a defense that finished first in the Pac-12 in both scoring and total defense for the fourth year in a row. The Huskies allowed just 15.5 points and 301.8 yards per game, and were also in the top two in pass defense (both in terms of yards and efficiency) and rush defense.
More specifically, Harris helped coach a secondary that featured two All-America players: safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Byron Murphy, who both earned first-team honors. Murphy was rated the top cornerback in the country by PFF College. Those two both earned first-team All-Pac-12, while Bryant and Molden (as a special teamer) both made second team. Senior safety Jojo McIntosh was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
Β
Harris came to the UW after spending the previous two seasons at San Jose State. He joined the Huskies thanks to the new NCAA rule that allows FBS coaching staffs to employ 10 full-time assistant coaches β an increase over the previous maximum of nine, which had been the rule for decades.
Β
Harris spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as the defensive backs coach at San Jose State, working under head coach Brent Brennan, a former UW graduate assistant coach. At San Jose State, he coached cornerback Jermaine Kelly, a transfer who began his career at Washington, and Trevon Bierria, the younger brother of former UW linebacker Keishawn Bierria, among others.
Β
In 2017, Harris' secondary at SJSU included three senior starters, two of whom have been invited to play in postseason, senior all-star games.
Β
In 2016, his first season in San Jose, he coached first-team All-Mountain West Conference cornerback Andre Chachere and honorable mention selection safety Maurice McKnight. In between his two seasons at SJSU, he participated in the National Football League's summer internship coaching program with the Oakland Raiders.
Β
Harris spent the 2015 season as defensive backs coach at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. He coached DB Colton Olson to first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors in his lone season with the Trailblazers.
Β
Harris coached the secondary at Humboldt State in 2014. The Lumberbacks ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense and No. 19 in pass defense. Three Humboldt defensive backs earned All-GNAC honors.
Β
In 2013, Harris coached the secondary at Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla.,
Β
Prior to that, Harris spent time coaching in the Snoop League in Southern California, at Fullerton College and at Diamond Bar (Calif.) High School.
Β
After completing his collegiate playing career at USC, Harris spent some time in the Seahawks camp and played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
Β
A highly-recruited athlete (league MVP in both football and basketball) from Charter Oak High in Covina, Calif., Harris started his USC career in 2005, seeing time at cornerback as a true freshman. USC went 12-1 that season, losing only to Texas in a memorable Rose Bowl showdown.
Β
After redshirting the 2006 season due to injury, Harris returned to the field in 2007, playing safety in 10 games, helping the Trojans to an 11-2 record, capped by a win over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. In 2008, he played in all 13 games on a Trojans squad that finished 12-1 and beat Penn State in the Rose Bowl, finishing No. 3 in the final AP top 25.
Β
As a senior in 2009, Harris started at safety, finishing the season with 69 tackles and four interceptions in coach Pete Carroll's final season with the Trojans.
β’ 2020-2021 β Washington β Defensive Backs
β’ 2018-2019 βΒ Washington β Assistant Defensive Backs
β’ 2016-2017 β San Jose State βΒ Defensive Backs
β’ 2015 β Dixie State βΒ Defensive Backs
β’ 2014 β Humboldt State β Secondary
β’ 2013 β Northwestern Oklahoma State β Secondary
Β
In his first season in that role, Harris helped coach the top defense in the Pac-12, in terms of total defense and passing yards allowed. Among his defensive backs were first-team All-Pac-12 honoree Elijah Molden (who was Pro Football Focus' Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year) and second-team selection Trent McDuffie.
In 2019, Harris and Lake coached what continues to be one of the strongest secondaries in the nation. A young group β which included three true freshmen who started at least five games each β played a high level. Molden earned first-team All-Pac-12 and senior Myles Bryant was a second-team selection.
In his first season in Seattle, Harris helped coach a defense that finished first in the Pac-12 in both scoring and total defense for the fourth year in a row. The Huskies allowed just 15.5 points and 301.8 yards per game, and were also in the top two in pass defense (both in terms of yards and efficiency) and rush defense.
More specifically, Harris helped coach a secondary that featured two All-America players: safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Byron Murphy, who both earned first-team honors. Murphy was rated the top cornerback in the country by PFF College. Those two both earned first-team All-Pac-12, while Bryant and Molden (as a special teamer) both made second team. Senior safety Jojo McIntosh was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
Β
Harris came to the UW after spending the previous two seasons at San Jose State. He joined the Huskies thanks to the new NCAA rule that allows FBS coaching staffs to employ 10 full-time assistant coaches β an increase over the previous maximum of nine, which had been the rule for decades.
Β
Harris spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as the defensive backs coach at San Jose State, working under head coach Brent Brennan, a former UW graduate assistant coach. At San Jose State, he coached cornerback Jermaine Kelly, a transfer who began his career at Washington, and Trevon Bierria, the younger brother of former UW linebacker Keishawn Bierria, among others.
Β
In 2017, Harris' secondary at SJSU included three senior starters, two of whom have been invited to play in postseason, senior all-star games.
Β
In 2016, his first season in San Jose, he coached first-team All-Mountain West Conference cornerback Andre Chachere and honorable mention selection safety Maurice McKnight. In between his two seasons at SJSU, he participated in the National Football League's summer internship coaching program with the Oakland Raiders.
Β
Harris spent the 2015 season as defensive backs coach at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. He coached DB Colton Olson to first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors in his lone season with the Trailblazers.
Β
Harris coached the secondary at Humboldt State in 2014. The Lumberbacks ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense and No. 19 in pass defense. Three Humboldt defensive backs earned All-GNAC honors.
Β
In 2013, Harris coached the secondary at Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla.,
Β
Prior to that, Harris spent time coaching in the Snoop League in Southern California, at Fullerton College and at Diamond Bar (Calif.) High School.
Β
After completing his collegiate playing career at USC, Harris spent some time in the Seahawks camp and played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
Β
A highly-recruited athlete (league MVP in both football and basketball) from Charter Oak High in Covina, Calif., Harris started his USC career in 2005, seeing time at cornerback as a true freshman. USC went 12-1 that season, losing only to Texas in a memorable Rose Bowl showdown.
Β
After redshirting the 2006 season due to injury, Harris returned to the field in 2007, playing safety in 10 games, helping the Trojans to an 11-2 record, capped by a win over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. In 2008, he played in all 13 games on a Trojans squad that finished 12-1 and beat Penn State in the Rose Bowl, finishing No. 3 in the final AP top 25.
Β
As a senior in 2009, Harris started at safety, finishing the season with 69 tackles and four interceptions in coach Pete Carroll's final season with the Trojans.
β’ 2020-2021 β Washington β Defensive Backs
β’ 2018-2019 βΒ Washington β Assistant Defensive Backs
β’ 2016-2017 β San Jose State βΒ Defensive Backs
β’ 2015 β Dixie State βΒ Defensive Backs
β’ 2014 β Humboldt State β Secondary
β’ 2013 β Northwestern Oklahoma State β Secondary
Β
Head Coach Jedd Fisch Press Conference: September 8, 2025
Monday, September 08
Washington Football | Week 2
Sunday, September 07
Washington 70, UC Davis 10 | Huskies Highlights
Sunday, September 07
Joel McHale Joins the Washington Football Broadcast
Sunday, September 07
