Elon University Athletics

Follow Coach Harris on Twitter: @CoachHarris20

Recruiting Areas:

• Southeast North Carolina, Wake County
• South Carolina Coast, Georgia Coast
• Jacksonville, North Florida

Nate Harris joined Tony Trisciani's staff in May of 2022 as the team's running backs coach and begins his third season on staff in 2024. In Feb. of 2025, Harris added the role as recruiting coordinator for the Phoenix. 
 
Harris’ first season with Elon saw the Phoenix improve by more than 60 yards per game on the ground, averaging 152.4 yards per contest rushing. Freshman Jalen Hampton became just the second Elon player in the program’s FCS era to break 1,000 yards rushing, finishing with 1,053. He rushed for 80+ yards eight times and at least 130 yards on four occasions. Hampton’s 10 rushing touchdowns tied the program’s FCS single-season record. Three times, the team rushed for at least 200 yards, earning victories in each of those contests (Gardner-Webb, William & Mary and Hampton). In fact, the team was 5-0 when rushing for at least 170 yards.  
 
Hampton followed that season up with a strong sophomore year under Harris’ tutelage in 2023. He ran for 880 yards and six touchdowns, while Wayne Dixie III also developed (5.1 yards per carry) as a second option. Elon lost just five fumbles all season, best in the CAA and No. 25 nationally. Hampton was third in the CAA in rushing yards per game and posted 150+ yards in back-to-back wins over North Carolina A&T (153 yards) and Campbell (169 yards).

Harris, who has a master's degree in interactive media from Elon, was most recently the running backs coach and on-campus recruiting coordinator at the University of West Alabama, where the Tigers went 2-0 in an abbreviated 2020 campaign and 7-4 in 2021. West Alabama averaged 189.5 yards rushing in 2021 and scored 22 touchdowns on the ground. Demetrius Battle (934 yards) and James Smith III (517 yards) both rushed for more than 500 yards on the season and each averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Battle was named Gulf South First Team All-Conference in 2021, becoming the first Tiger running back to earn first team recognition since 2013.
 
Prior to his time at West Alabama, Harris was the running backs coach at Guilford College from 2018-19. Guilford averaged 166.7 yards rushing during his tenure with the Quakers despite a 5-14 combined record in those two seasons. Under Harris' tutelage, running back De'Eric Bell was named 2018 AFCA First Team All-American All-Purpose Back, as well as first team all-conference.
 
Harris also served as a defensive backs coach at Middle Creek (N.C.) High School for three years, helping the program to a 35-6 record, back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016, and two South Wake conference titles.
 
A 2012 graduate of Western Carolina University with a double major in broadcasting and public relations, Harris joined the Catamounts as a walk-on and eventually earned a full athletic scholarship and was a two-year team captain. He produced almost 2,000 all-purpose yards in his career. In 2013, Harris earned his master's degree in interactive media from Elon.
 

Coaching Experience
2015-18	Defensive Backs, Middle Creek High School
2018-20	Running Backs, Guilford
2020-22	Running Backs, West Alabama
2022-24	Running Backs, Elon
2025-present	Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator, Elon