Florida football: Chargers assistant Will Harris set to be hired as next Gators defensive backs coach | OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news, analysis, schedules and scores

Image Credit: Anna Carrington, UAA

Two weeks after Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier’s move to fire a pair of defensive assistants was made public, Florida has finally been able to fill one of those vacancies. The Gators are expected to bring aboard San Diego Chargers assistant secondary coach Will Harris to lead their defensive backs at some point following the team’s Sunday game against the Denver Broncos, OnlyGators.com has learned from a source close to the situation.

Harris has not yet finalized a deal with Florida, but an agreement is expected to be consummated in the next day or two. Gators defensive backs — both those on the roster and those being recruited by the program — have been informed that Harris is the choice with many expecting to hear from him early next week.

Harris was in his first season with the Chargers after serving as a defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Georgia Southern in 2022. That year, the Eagles had one of the worst defenses in the FBS, though their roster and talent level was a significant reason why. Harris spent the prior four seasons coaching defensive backs at Washington where his units ranked among the best in the Pac-12.

In fact, during the 2021 season, Washington allowed just 1,720 yards passing and six touchdowns through the air — both fewest in the nation — while grabbing 10 interceptions. His Huskies secondary units included first-round NFL Draft choice Trent McDuffie and second-round pick Kyler Gordon among multiple All-Pac-12 first- and second-team selections.

“This game is all about relationships. I think one of the biggest things that I did and I learned as I went [through college football] was to connect with our guys no matter what. It doesn’t matter, the more you can connect with your guys, that’s when you build that love and trust and you guys run through walls for one another,” Harris said during an interview after being hired by the Chargers this offseason.

“Another thing our sport has gotten away from, especially in college, is not building confidence within the guys. I’m all about building confidence. Some guys say, ‘Break them down, build them up’. Well, I’m always building confidence in my guys because I believe confidence is cash.”

The former USC star (2005-09), who has a professional relationship with Snoop Dogg stemming from his days in Southern California, had brief stints in the NFL and CFL before moving into coaching. Harris worked his way up through the profession with stops at Northwestern Oklahoma (2013), Humboldt State (2014), Dixie State (2015) and San Jose State (2016-17) before he landed at Washington.

Harris replaces former secondary coach Corey Raymond, the most notable assistant hired as part of Napier’s initial coaching staff who was long known as a star recruiter at LSU.

Florida still must hire a defensive line coach after firing co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer two weeks ago. It was expected that the Gators would also make changes to their offense and special teams staff, though no further movement has occurred at this point.

Harris’ candidacy for the position was first reported by 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner.