One of the top high school programs in the country, Miami Booker T. Washington, lost its head coach on Monday as Tim “Ice” Harris resigned to take a position with the Miami Hurricanes. Miami announced the move on its official website.
Harris will join Al Golden’s staff as assistant director of football operations, and with his extensive experience in South Florida he will be the primary liaison with high school coaches.
Miami signed just four prospects from South Florida in 2013, but after an apparent change in recruiting philosophy the Hurricanes signed 14 players from the talent-rich area in 2014. By adding Harris, who has 24 years of coaching experience in the Miami area and compiled a 99-10 record in his two stints at Booker T. Washington, the Hurricanes are looking to increase their stronghold on the fertile recruiting area.
Booker T. Washington had seven players sign with FBS schools this year, but only two, Chad Thomas and Demetrius Jackson, signed with Miami. Harris’ own son, quarterback Treon Harris, signed with Florida, but by adding Tim Harris to their staff, the Hurricanes are hoping to start a pipeline from the nationally recognized high school.
The 2015 Booker T. Washington class is not quite as strong as its 2014 class, but the area surrounding the school is loaded with talent so Golden picked a great time to add Harris to his staff. Ten of the top 100 players in the 2015 ESPN Junior 300 are from South Florida. The No. 11-ranked junior in the country, athlete Torrance Gibson (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage), is the top South Florida prospect and has visited the Hurricanes multiple times.
Landing a prospect like Gibson, who wants to play quarterback in college, will only help with other elite prospects in the area such as defensive back Tarvarus McFadden (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage), wide receiver Da'Vante Phillips (Miami/Central) and wide receiver Calvin Ridley (Coconut Creek, Fla./Monarch).
Harris is easily one of the most recognizable names in South Florida high school football, and his experience and connections in the area should only help the Hurricanes continue to recruit at a very high level.