Jason Harris steps in as head coach for Vina football
By Bart Moss for the FCT
After several weeks without a head football coach, Vina High School has found the man to lead the program. Jason Harris, who has served as an assistant coach at Vina for the past five years, was named the Red Devil head coach at the June 27 school board meeting.
“I’m very thankful and blessed to have this opportunity,” said Harris, a 1987 graduate of Phil Campbell High School. “I want to thank Superintendent Hamilton and our board member Pat Cochran and the rest of the Board of Education for giving me their vote of confidence.
“I also want to thank all of the support I’ve had from the kids and the people in the community. We have a good group of young men here at Vina, and I’m very excited,” Harris added. “We’re going to work very hard to get this program where it needs to be.”
Harris’ first coaching position was at Red Bay High School, where he served as an assistant coach to longtime Tiger head coach Dale Jeffries, who recently retired as head coach of the Colbert County Indians. Harris also coached at Parrish High School in Walker County. He served three years as the head baseball coach at Covenant Christian School in Colbert County before coming to Vina.
Harris said he wants his team to be focused on the little things that makes teams winners.
“My philosophy is to take the time and give extra effort to do things the right way,” explained Harris. “Attention to detail is very important to me.”
Harris said he also believes his job as coach moves beyond the field into the classroom to build successful young men.
“Our goal at Vina is to be disciplined in the classroom and set good examples for the future of the program,” said Harris. “We are going work hard to become the best student athletes we can be. Being strong in the classroom will help us to build a disciplined and competitive football program.”
Harris served as an assistant coach under current Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton. Hamilton said Harris is the right fit for the job.
“Coach Harris has been an assistant with the program for several years,” said Hamilton. “He is familiar with the kids and the program. He is a hard worker and will do a good job.”
Harris has already started to work. He said he is starting a Football Booster Club, and they will have a tent set up at the Vina JulyFest July 29.
“I would encourage all community members interested in helping our football program succeed to come by and visit us at our tent and help us get off to a great start this year,” said Harris.
