UA Pine Bluff Athletics

Rashad Harris was named Director of Sports Performance in Spring 2019. Harris will oversee the strength and conditioning of all UAPB Golden Lion student-athletes. 

Harris has spent more than 15 years in football coaching, teaching, and strength and conditioning. He spent the previous year as head strength and conditioning coach at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn. overseeing the program for all CBHS student-athletes. 

Harris spent three years at the University of Florida as coordinator and later as assistant director for strength and conditioning for the Gators football program. He spent one season as head strength and conditioning coach at Alabama A&M after a two-year stint as assistant strength and conditioning coach for football at Colorado State. 

Harris spent five years as a teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and assistant football and track coach at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky. Harris began his career in coaching as a graduate assistant at Michigan State. 

As a player, Harris ranks 10th all-time in tackles at the University of Louisville, was a two-time team captain at linebacker, and team defensive player of the year, and second-team all-conference selection, competing in three bowl games. He spent time in NFL camps with the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars, and played with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe.

Harris holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Louisville, and a Master's degree in  Kinesiology from Michigan State. He is certified in Strength and Conditioning by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), and has certifications in functional movement screen level 1 (FMS) and CPR and First Aid. Harris is also a corrective exercise specialist (CES) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Harris is married to Christina Harris, and has a daughter, Soleil.