Harris told The Miami Herald in an exclusive interview that his job will involve assisting UM head coach Randy Shannon, but in a ''non-coaching'' capacity.
''I'm basically going to be helping [Shannon] and learning from him what it takes to be a position coach at the college football level,'' Harris said. ``I'm very excited about the opportunity and grateful that he saw the potential in me to come in and do my part to help him win a national championship.''
Harris, who was named USA Today's National High School Football Coach of the Year this past season, led the Tornadoes to the Class 4A state championship, a 14-0 record and a No. 4 national ranking by USA Today.
Harris also led the Booker T. Washington boys' track and field team to a Class 3A state championship last year. On Friday night in Winter Park, he watched his son, Brandon, win a pair of gold medals, but did not coach the Tornadoes. His assistant football coach Andre Brown guided Booker T. to a third-place finish.
''I had forgotten what it was like to just sit back and watch my son compete without being directly involved,'' said Harris, who will have the opportunity to keep a close eye on his son this fall as Brandon, a defensive back, begins his freshman season at UM. ``I think I hadn't done that since he was little.''
During his five years at Booker T., Harris turned the Tornadoes into a state powerhouse.
Prior to their state championship season, the Tornadoes advanced to the state semifinals four consecutive seasons. Harris' coaching record of 57-7 was the best by any Miami-Dade coach during that span. Booker T. has not lost to a Dade opponent since Harris' first season in 2003.
Harris said assistant and former Miami High coach Earl Tillman has been named the school's interim football coach. Tillman will coach the Tornadoes in their spring football game May 29 against Fort Lauderdale Dillard at Curtis Park.
''I'm obviously sad to leave Booker T., but I feel like we have a lot of good things in place with coach Tillman taking over,'' Harris said. ``I felt like we did a lot of positive things that the school and the community can be proud of.''
