![New Florida secondary coach Will Harris directs his defensive backs during the Florida Gators as they held their final open Spring football practice before the Orange and Blue Game at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_1803,h_1014/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/200/01jn4avdn6e4j8mbv06t.jpg "New Florida secondary coach Will Harris directs his defensive backs during the Florida Gators as they held their final open Spring football practice before the Orange and Blue Game at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
He's not going anywhere. It's been a busy offseason for new Miami Hurricanes defensive assistant Will Harris. Big news arrived when it was announced he'd be leaving the Florida staff to join Mario Crisotbal in Coral Gables. Harris is expected to be a strong recruiter.
However, shortly after the Miami news broke, it didn't take long for rumors to start flying that Harris was already thinking about leaving town. More specifically, Harris was linked with the New Orleans Saints.
While speaking to the media on Thursday, he addressed things and said that in the end, staying with the Canes was the best decision for him and his family. At the same time, he also confirmed there were opportunities in the pros he was considering:
Miami safeties coach Will Harris on why he wanted to coach at UM:
— Luke Chaney (@lukechaney247) February 27, 2025
“NFL things came about, but I had to do what’s best for my family.” pic.twitter.com/ZFBGWWgBVl
Miami's Will Harris confirmed he had NFL interest this offseason
"Cristobal, going up against him - we had some battles with Washington and Oregon," Harris, previously on the UW staff as well, said. "Just watching him from a far and kind of (one of those things) why not go learn from one of the best in the country and be a sponge. I think that was one of the biggest things for me, just having that conversation with him. Yeah, NFL things came about, but at the end of the day I had to do what's best for my family."
Harris didn't share which NFL teams were showing him interest, but now that he's staying put in Coral Gables for the 2025 campaign, everyone can officially put all of that talk behind them. Harris will be teaming up with Zac Etheridge and new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to improve the pass-defense.
Last season, the secondary was atrocious for the Canes, but with all the transfers coming in, including Zechariah Poyser, Ethan O'Connor, Xavier Lucas and others, the DBs group as a whole should showcase big-time improvements.
For a little while, people were scared Harris might be off to the NFC South to coach for the Saints, but he's staying with Miami after all. This obviously is huge for Cristobal, as the pressure is on for this team to deliver in 2025.