Cooper Harris is in his tenth season on the Ichabod coaching staff where he coaches the Ichabod safeties while leading the Washburn defense and the team’s defensive coordinator.
At Washburn he has coached six of the top 10 tacklers in Ichabod history as well as two All-American linebackers in Grant Gould and Zach Watkins, seven all-region picks and 17 all-MIAA selections including Watkins, the 2006 MIAA Freshman of the Year and 2009 MIAA and Southwest Regional Defensive Player of the Year.
During the 2008 season, the Ichabods led the MIAA and were fourth in the country in net punting while finishing fourth in the nation in 2009. In 2007, his punt team led the nation in net yardage with a 38.2 punting average. The team also finished second in the nation after allowing 2.61 yards per return.
Prior to joining the Ichabods, Harris spent one season as a graduate assistant for the 2001 NCAA Division II Champion North Dakota Fighting Sioux. In 2000, Harris served as defensive coordinator at William Aberhart High School in Calgary, Alberta. He helped coach the team to a city championship.
Harris played in the Canadian Football League from 1995-2000 for Toronto and Hamilton. He was a linebacker, special teams captain and special teams MVP in 1998 for Hamilton and was a member of two Grey Cup champion teams in Hamilton and Toronto.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Harris graduated from Pittsburg State in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Harris has also finished his master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of North Dakota.
Harris played for the Gorillas from 1992-1994, earning second team all-conference honors in 1993 and first team all-conference honors in 1994. As a senior, Harris was a team captain and most valuable defensive player two times at linebacker.
At Pitt State, Harris recorded 241 tackles in 31 games, which ranks eighth on the Gorillas’ all-time tackles chart. He recorded 17 in the 1992 NCAA national championship game against Jacksonville State. Before transferring to Pittsburg State, Harris was an honorable mention all-America and first team all-conference choice at Independence Community College. He was also the team captain and chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Cooper’s father Wayne is in the Canadian Football League’s Hall of Fame and the NCAA College Football Hall of Fame.
Cooper and his wife Summer, Washburn’s marketing and ticket coordinator, live in Topeka with their daughter Piper.
