Panthers offensive coordinator Harris takes job at UCF

Forty days.

That’s how long Tim Harris Jr.’s tenure as Florida International University’s offensive coordinator lasted.

The UCF Knights announced Sunday that Harris will be their co-offensive coordinator.

“My wife and I are so proud of him,” said Harris’ father, Tim “Ice” Harris, who is head coach at Florida Memorial. “He has done a great job of developing young people.”

Harris, a former Miami Hurricanes track star, had been FIU’s running backs coach since 2015. But after FIU went 0-5 in 2020, Panthers coach Butch Davis let offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky go, replacing him with Harris.

“We’re very excited about the new direction of our offense,” Davis said at the time.

Harris, who was unavailable for comment Sunday, said last month that he was “grateful and appreciative to Coach Davis for putting trust in me for this great opportunity.”

Now Harris has another opportunity with UCF and new coach Gus Malzahn.

The Knights became a national power in 2017, going 13-0. And although the Knights slipped to 6-4 this past season, they still went 41-8 over the past four years.

Malzahn, who led Auburn to the national title as part of the 2013 season, was hired by UCF on Feb. 15. Since then, he made headlines by hiring linebackers coach Travis Williams away from the Hurricanes. He also hired cornerbacks coach Corey Bell, who has a long history as a Miami high school coach.

In Harris, Malzahn hired perhaps the best recruiter among Davis’ assistants.

Davis will now look for a new offensive coordinator in an offseason that has seen numerous changes.

From last season’s staff, gone are co-defensive coordinators Jeff Copp and Jerod Kruse; defensive line coach Kenard Lang; special teams coordinator Harrison Green (who has not yet been replaced); Skrosky and Harris. Bryn Renner was moved from defense to offense.

Offensive line coach Joel Rodriguez and wide receivers coach DJ McCarthy are still in place, but have only been at FIU for one season.

Other than tight ends coach Drew Davis, Butch Davis’ son, no other FIU position coach has been at the same spot for longer than one season.

THIS AND THAT

● FIU opened its 2021 baseball season this past weekend by winning two of three games against Illinois-Chicago. The Panthers did it by starting three true freshmen on the infield: Dante Girardi at third, Steven Ondina at shortstop and Adrian Figueroa at first base. Girardi tied for the team high with three RBI in three games. Figueroa hit 5 for 10, and Ondina made some stellar defensive plays.

Another true freshman, Mario Zabala, won Saturday’s first game when he was used as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the 10th with the score tied 3-3. Zabala stole second and scrambled all the way home when the catcher’s throw was errant.

“Our freshmen are doing well,” coach Mervyl Melendez said. “I like how they stayed in the game mentally.”