By Jackson Watkins

Since he stepped on campus in 2016, Collegiate boys varsity basketball head coach Del Harris has changed basketball culture at Collegiate School. In his first year of coaching, Harris led the team to an 18-11 season, improving from a 13-12 record the previous year. After having the best record in the past twenty years, at 21-6, the 2017-2018 team changed people’s perspective of Collegiate basketball. As Harris says, “the younger kids are excited about the team and the program. [Former] Coach Alex Peavey built a solid foundation, and we are building on that foundation in a positive way.”

Coach Harris during a preseason scrimmage. Photo credit: Lew Rice.

Harris has a complex background in basketball. He has coached at the Division III level at Vassar College, as well as the Division I level at the University of Richmond, Virginia Military Institute, and Morgan State University. These days, when he’s not at Collegiate, he spends his time coaching his 17U Team Richmond – Garner Road AAU team. This program, which has teams from 9U all the way up to 17U, plays in highly competitive regional tournaments meant to showcase players in front of college coaches and recruiters.

Harris describes his past two years at Collegiate as “a great place, with great people.” In describing his process of choosing a new coaching position, he says it was not just the impressive academic reputation that made Collegiate attractive, but that the people made him want to come here. He adds that he is “grateful and enjoying the opportunity here at Collegiate.” When off the court, he is a substitute teacher for various subjects, teaching and monitoring students in the Middle and Upper School. When asked if subbing has brought any surprises, he responded, “I had been in a similar position in Chesterfield and Henrico schools, so I’m not new to it. I think it is a great opportunity to meet the student body.”

After the school day, Harris focuses his attention to the basketball program. He prepares for each practice with a detailed plan that translates to focus on the court. Each year, Harris says his expectations are usually the same: “We want to get better, play the right way, and have fun doing it. We want our character on and off the court to represent the school and program in a positive way.” This year, he says he is looking forward to spending time with his experienced team, consisting of six seniors (including myself) and eight returners. He says his main goal for the year is “enjoying every ounce of time together” with the team.

As head of the Collegiate basketball program, Harris not only leads the varsity team but advises the junior varsity and Cub programs. This allows the opportunity for him to see kids “progress and develop from a young age.” With six Cub teams, two junior varsity teams, and his varsity team, Harris tries to coach as many kids as possible. Once a week during the fall and spring, he hosts an open gym, an opportunity for players at all levels to hone their skills at the same time. However, Harris’ top priority for all levels is to concentrate on defense, an idea he emphasizes every day on varsity.

Coach Harris on the sidelines of a Team Richmond – Garner Road game. Photo credit: proskillsbasketball.com.

In the future, Harris hopes to continue his relationship with USA Basketball, a program which he helped host at Collegiate in the fall. In this two-day clinic, Seal Athletic Center hosted over one hundred players from up and down the East Coast to learn more about the game. Harris also attended a coaching clinic at the USA Basketball Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado this year, and he goes to other professional development opportunities on coaching whenever he can. 

Harris has brought a brand new energy to the Collegiate basketball program, something that the team recognizes and appreciates.

Senior Brooks Moore (‘19), who has been on the team for two years, describes Harris with three simple words: “Competitive, animated, and experienced.” These qualities make him so energetic while still staying systematic with his coaching.

Robbie Beran (‘19), who recently committed to play at Northwestern University, adds, “Coach Harris does more than anyone really sees. Yes, he is the head varsity coach, but he oversees all the other teams and is very active running camps and skill training.” Beran also says, “Del has helped mold me into who I am today.”

There is no doubt that Del Harris has plenty going on while running the Collegiate basketball program, but that does not stop him from being a tireless leader on and off the court.