Former Gators assistant coach Keary Colbert, left, with new Gators secondary coach Will Harris following Sunday's Broncos-Chargers game in Los Angeles. (Photo: Courtesy of Colbert's X page).
Carter's Corner: Gators Assistant Harris Made Strong Impression on Former Boss Lake
Sunday, December 17, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jimmy Lake was driving home from work Friday afternoon and performing one of America's most daunting tasks: scheming to defeat Los Angeles traffic.
Having driven those freeways a time or two, the caller promised not to keep him long. In his first season as assistant head coach with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, Lake did not mind taking time to talk about one of his star pupils. Will Harris
Lake, then defensive coordinator at Washington under Chris Petersen, pushed for hiring new Gators secondary coach Will Harris in 2018. Lake met Harris, a former defensive back at USC under Pete Carroll, at a satellite camp for prospects on the campus of Cal Lutheran while Harris was defensive backs coach at San Jose State.
Lake watched as Harris coached the players and led drills.
"I just noticed Will and how well he related to the young men and how detailed he was in his coaching," Lake said. "He had such good energy about him, a good vibe."
Lake took notes not only on the young prospects but also on Harris, and when the NCAA approved the addition of a full-time 10th on-field assistant five years ago, he reached out to Harris to serve as assistant defensive backs coach.
"I immediately went to my list, and Will was at the top,'' Lake said. "That was how we met, and that was how we ended up hiring him."
Harris instantly impacted the Seattle campus and oversaw the development of NFL-bound corners Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon. When Lake replaced Petersen in 2020, Harris took over as the Huskies' secondary coach and led a unit that surrendered the country's fewest passing yards and touchdown passes the following season.
Harris and Lake started this season as friendly rivals in the City of Angels. Following a season as defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, Harris was the assistant secondary coach for the Los Angeles Chargers until departing after last Sunday's game for the Florida job. The Rams and Chargers did not meet in the regular season, but the former Huskies did cross paths at a preseason game.
"We saw each other before and after the game," Lake said. "It was really good to make that connection."
The 36-year-old Harris, following a week on the road to recruit, arrived in Gainesville this weekend to get further settled in his new job with the Gators.
Lake expects Harris to have an impact like he did with the Huskies.
Gators secondary coach Will Harris, far right, with former Huskies head coach Jimmy Lake, second from left, and former Washington players Julius Irvin, left, and Kyler Gordon. (Photo: Courtesy of Dawgman.com).
"The proof is in the guys he put out at Washington in our time there,'' Lake said. "He is extremely detailed with technique and coverages and schemes. He teaches tackling really well, which is a huge part of great secondary play, making sure you don't give up big plays in the running game.
"He is going to add a huge component strategy-wise and technique-wise. And then, on the recruiting trail, he is just bubbling with energy. He's authentic. Young players really gravitate toward him just with his charisma. I'm sure he is beating the trail and trying to bring some good Gators to Gainesville."
Harris replaced veteran secondary coach Corey Raymond, dismissed by head coach Billy Napier following Florida's 5-7 season. The Gators finished ranked 69th nationally in pass defense (226.7 ypg) in 2023.
The Gators turned to Harris to turn the page heading into 2024.
What can the Gators expect from their new assistant?
"When you see him coach firsthand, you'll be able to see his burst of energy, his excitement and his pure enjoyment from coaching football," Lake said. "You can't help but be attracted to that. That's what you are going to find with Will Harris."
