APPLETON, Wis. — Chris Harris has joined the Lawrence University football coaching staff, head coach Mike Barthelmess announced today.
Harris, a 2000 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, will serve as the offensive line coach for the Vikings.
“We are very excited to have a high-caliber coach like Chris join our football program,” Barthelmess said. “His depth of experience, both as a recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, will dramatically impact what we are attempting to create for our scholar-athletes as we continue to move progressively forward.”
Harris comes to Lawrence from Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind., where he had coached since 2010. Harris was the offensive line coach and director of football operations at Manchester. Harris helped turn around the football program during his three seasons at Manchester. The Spartans won just two games in Harris’ first season, but Manchester won six games during the 2012 campaign.
This is Harris’ second stint as a coach in the Midwest Conference. He was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Beloit College for two seasons. Harris coached with the Bucs during head coach Chris Brann’s two best seasons at Beloit. The Bucs posted an 11-9 record when Harris was on the staff in 2008 and 2009.
Harris began his coaching career as the defensive intern at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., in 2000. Harris went to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, in 2001 and served as the offensive line coach from 2001 to 2003. Harris then worked as the offensive line coach at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, from 2003 to 2007.
Harris spent 2007 and 2008 as the graduate assistant offensive line coach at Minot State University in Minot, N.D. Harris earned his master of education degree with a physical education and human performance concentration in 2008.