Greg Harris was elevated to defensive coordinator after serving four years as linebackers coach, head coach Brian Bohannon announced January 25, 2024.
Harris replaces Nathan Burton who spent one season with the Owls before assuming the same role at Troy.
“Greg has done a great job during his four years with our program,” said Bohannon. “He has previous success as a defensive coordinator and I am excited to see him transition into this new role leading our defense as we move into Conference USA.”
Last season, the Kennesaw State defense held opponents to 17.9 points per game which ranked ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The defense surrendered 308.2 yards per game, good for 15th in the nation.
“I am thankful for this opportunity to be the new defensive coordinator at KSU,” said Harris. “I am excited to get to work for this university, the staff, and these players. It is my goal to continue the Gold Standard as we enter Conference USA and bring the EAT mantra to FBS football.”
In his four years at Kennesaw State, Harris has mentored five linebackers that received postseason accolades. Most recently, Garland Benyard was named to the 2022 Phil Steele All-ASUN Conference Team after starting all 11 games and ending the year with the second-most tackles on the KSU defense.
In 2021, Harris guided linebacker Evan Thompson to one of the best defensive seasons in Kennesaw State history and a First Team All-Big South selection. Thompson set a new school record for tackles in a single season (118) en route to becoming the first player in program history to record 10+ tackles in three consecutive games.
During that stretch, Thompson also broke the program record for total tackles in a game when he recorded 17 against Gardner-Webb.
Prior to Kennesaw State, Harris' defenses consistently ranked among the best in NCAA Division II football during his tenure at North Greenville University, including his 2019 squad led by All-American and 2019 Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the year Chauncey Haney, who led the league with 9.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss.
His defense scored a pair of touchdowns during the 2019 season to lead the Gulf South Conference, while allowing 357.8 yards per contest. The 2017 and 2018 seasons were impressive years for Harris' defense as well, ranking 23rd in the country in blocked kicks in 2017, while ranking eighth in blocked kicks and 19th in third down defense in 2018.As a receiver, Harris was equally effective, catching 47 passes for 431 yards and three touchdowns during his Keydet career. He served as a team captain for the 1996 season and was a Dean's List Student.
Harris is a 1996 graduate of Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. in business and economics. During his playing career at VMI, he was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter with the Keydets and had the reputation as one of the team's best blockers in Coach Bill Stewart's two-tight end alignment that helped running back Thomas Haskins set a new Division I-AA career rushing mark.
Before his time with the Crusaders, Harris spent the first eight years of his coaching career at Virginia Military Institute, including the final two seasons as the defensive coordinator. During his tenure in Lexington, he mentored five All-Conference selections.
During his first year as the defensive coordinator at NGU, the Crusaders ranked 51st out of 168 Division II teams in total defense, surrendering an average of 351.4 yards per game, an improvement of nearly 50 yards per game from the previous season. Additionally, they ranked 50th in points allowed, giving up just 23.9 points per game.
In 2016, Harris and his staff led the Crusaders to a 9-5 record, including a trip to the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. During the season, his defense recorded two shutouts and ranked 25th in the nation in turnovers gained.
Harris and his wife Lorrie have two children, Dakota and Madelyn.
