Bob Harrison (American football coach)

Robert Harrison (September 9, 1941 – April 15, 2022) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Kent State and later served as a coach for John Adams High School, Kent State, Iowa, Cornell, NC State, Tennessee, the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commandos, Georgia, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston College.

Bob Harrison
Biographical details
Born(1941-09-09)September 9, 1941
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedApril 15, 2022(2022-04-15) (aged 80)
Playing career
1961–1963Kent State
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1964–1966John Adams HS (asst.)
1967–1968John Adams HS
1969–1970Kent State (DL)
1971–1973Iowa (OE/WR)
1974Cornell (OL)
1975–1976NC State (TE/OT)
1977–1982Tennessee (WR)
1983–1986Atlanta Falcons (WR)
1987Washington Commandos
1988–1991Georgia (WR)
1992–1993Pittsburgh Steelers (WR)
1994–1996Boston College (WR)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1998–c. 2011Atlanta Falcons (scout)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Upon being hired by the Washington Commandos in 1987, Harrison became the second black head coach in modern professional football history (after Willie Wood).

Early life and education

Harrison was born on September 9, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] He attended John Adams High School and joined Kent State University in 1960.[1] He earned varsity letters in three years (1961–1963) and recorded 27 receptions for 350 yards as an end on the football team.[2] As a senior, Harrison was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference.[3] After graduating, he attempted a professional football career but a knee injury ended his playing career.[4]

Coaching career

In 1964, Harrison accepted a position as an assistant coach at John Adams High School.[4] He served as head coach in his final two years with the school (1967–1968).[5]

In 1969, Harrison became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Kent State University.[2] He served in that position for two years before being named offensive ends and receivers coach at Iowa in January 1971.[5][6] After serving three years at Iowa, Harrison was named offensive line coach at Cornell in January 1974.[7][8]

In January 1975, Harrison was named assistant coach at North Carolina State.[8] After two years there as offensive tackles coach and tight ends coach, Harrison was hired as Tennessee wide receivers coach in 1977.[9] He spent six years with Tennessee before being named wide receivers coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL) on February 16, 1983.[10] After four seasons with the Falcons, he was fired in December 1986 along with several other of the coaches.[11]

In 1987, Harrison accepted a position as head coach of the Washington Commandos in the Arena Football League (AFL).[12] The move made him the second black head coach in modern professional football history, after Willie Wood.[13] Washington compiled a 2–4 record with Harrison as head coach.[14]

In March 1988, it was announced that Harrison had been hired by Georgia to become the wide receivers coach.[15] He served with them until being hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992 to coach the receivers.[16] He was fired in January 1994.[17] Harrison was later named receivers coach at Boston College, where he served from 1994 to 1996.[18]

Later life and death

Harrison later served as an Atlanta Falcons scout, being named NFC Scout of the Year in 2011.[18]

Harrison died on April 15, 2022, at the age of 80, after a long illness.[18]

References
  1. "Bob Harrison Coaching Record". Pro Football Archives.
  2. "Harrison Named Assistant Coach". Daily Kent Stater. Vol. LIV. April 30, 1969. p. 1.
  3. "OU, Miami Dominate All-Mid-Am Grid Team". The Logan Daily News. Associated Press. December 11, 1963. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. O'Toole, Thomas (August 18, 1981). "Harrison at Kent State When Tragedy Struck". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Bob Harrison At Linn I Club". The Gazette. October 6, 1971. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Tennessee assistant remembers the days when he coached at Iowa". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Associated Press. December 28, 1982. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. Schrader, Gus (January 30, 1974). "Red Peppers". The Gazette. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "Sports In Brief". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 23, 1975. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "Majors Fills Last Vacancy". The Tennessean. January 20, 1977. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "Vols' Harrison Goes to Falcons". The Tennessean. Associated Press. February 17, 1983. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. Barber, Jim (December 23, 1986). "Falcons Axe Benning". Tyrone Daily Herald. United Press International. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. Brennan, Christine (May 21, 1987). "Harrison To Be Commandos' Coach". The Washington Post.
  13. "Football". The Pittsburgh Press. May 22, 1987. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  14. "Bob Harrison - AFL Coaches". ArenaFan.
  15. "Georgia gets Harrison". The Greenville News. March 23, 1988. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. Newman, Scott (February 7, 1992). "Lewis exit steers away Pitt recruit". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  17. "Football". The News and Observer. January 22, 1994. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. Ledbetter, D. Orlando (April 16, 2022). "Former Falcons, UGA assistant coach Bob Harrison dies at 80". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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