BOCA RATON – New FAU coach Lane Kiffin may complete his staff with a coach that would shake up the recruiting balance in South Florida.
OwlAccess.com has learned that Kiffin has held conversations with current Florida International assistant coach Tim Harris Jr. about coming north to FAU.
Harris Jr. has been with the Panthers for two seasons. Prior to joinnig FIU he spent one season as the head coach of Miami-Booker T. Washington, leading the Tornadoes to the Class 4A state title.
Son of highly regarded Miami-area coach Time “Ice” Harris, Harris Jr. has deep roots in the Miami football community. He would provide a Miami-Dade presence FAU lost when former assistant Corey Bell accepted a job at South Florida.
Four players have committed to FAU since the Owls named Kiffin their head coach more than a month ago. Only one of the those players, Fort Lauderdale-Cardinal Gibbons defensive back Diashun Moss, is from South Florida.
FIU hired current head coach Butch Davis in November. Davis elected to retain Harris Jr. from the previous staff.
Should Harris Jr. leave FIU for FAU, it wouldn’t be the first time an assistant at one school left for their rival. In 2014 running backs coach Kerry Dixon did the reverse, jumping from FAU to FIU. Dixon would later leave FIU for the University of Florida, making room for the Panthers to hire Harris Jr.
Harris Jr. coaches the running backs at FIU but Kiffin would likely ask Harris Jr. to coach tight ends for the Owls.
Kendal Briles is the Owls’ new offensive coordinator. Kiffin retained Garin Justice from the previous staff as the offensive line coach. Former Detroit Lions and UCF running back Kevin Smith will coach the running backs. Charlie Weis Jr. is also a member of the offensive coaching staff and is believed to be coaching wide receivers.
FAU has yet to formerly announce the hiring of any of Kiffin’s assistants.
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