ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Barry Harris is a New Jersey native, inspirational leader, community advocate and one of New Jersey’s most accomplished coaches.
Harris graduated Dwight Morrow High School (DMHS) and attended Norfolk State University where he studied Business Administration.
Harris has always had a tremendous passion for sports, especially football, and for giving back to the community. He has been coaching for over 30 years, but his passion for public service spans much greater. His career as a coach started in Miami, Florida, where he was recognized for coaching, mentoring and community service. He went on to coach for many public and private institutions, but his alma mater, Dwight Morrow High School, was a coaching dream fulfilled. Under his leadership, several of Harris’ former players played for Division I schools and several are playing football on a professional level.
Harris learned early during his tenure as the head coach of the Dwight Morrow High School Raiders, that community relations was an integral component in the success of the program. When introduced as the Raiders head coach in 2012, Harris worked diligently to forge community partnerships between players and people, both on and off the field.
Although Harris concluded his coaching duties at DMHS in 2015, he continues to have a very positive presence on the DMHS campus and the Bergen Family Center where he carries on his passion of community service and mentorship by serving as the program director of the Center’s ZONE Teen Center.
Harris is also an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and his leadership in this field earned him a Joint Legislative Resolution presented to him by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in 2015.
Harris has received several other awards as well, including the Coach of the Year Award from the Bergen County Coaches Association in 2012.
Harris is the proud father of Barry Jr., 35, and Larue, 29. He attends New Vision Baptist Church and is the Armor Bearer for Bishop Victor Agee. He is also a member of the Men of Vision Edifying Organization (MOVE).
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Hillary Viders: You are a very ardent advocate of mentorship. Why is mentorship so important?
Barry Harris: I believe that by encouraging and guiding the impressionable minds of the youth in the community, they will go on to do great things within the community. I have called upon many of my famous former players and DMHS alumni, such as Garrett Dickerson of the NY Giants, to come back and speak to the youth about the importance of hard work and dedication.
By providing young people with these mentorship experiences, it imparts a positive effect on the students, the athletes, and the community.
HV: You are known as both an outstanding coach and an outstanding mentor. Which job is more difficult?
BH: Mentoring. When you coach, you provide guidance during a game and then that game is over. With mentorship, the game is never over. The relationship is continuous, sometimes throughout the person’s life. Also, a coach has a limited career. My mother always told me that my gift was my connecting with young people and impacting their lives, and that is something I can keep doing forever.
HV: During your tenure as the Raiders’ head coach at DMHS, you were instrumental in spearheading a young men’s leadership council. What was the goal of this council?
BH: The goal was to create a positive climate and culture for the students of the district. Comprised of student athletes and non-student athletes, the council met regularly with staff members, students, and parents to develop a healthy peer pressure for change. Under my tutelage, this council of young men held assemblies on how to improve the climate of the school by speaking to students about exemplifying excellence and leadership. The hope was to create a ripple effect of Raider pride within the schools and the community.
HV: What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching?
BH: Being a coach has afforded me the privilege to connect with the youth and the community on varying levels. I have been able to create positive change and long-lasting impacts on the students in our schools which has trickled down into the community in many ways. I believe that teaching life lessons through athletics will inspire young people to succeed in endeavors both on and off the field.
HV: One of the challenges of education throughout the U.S. is discipline in middle and high schools. I have seen you with large groups of teenagers at the Zone after school program and they are amazingly respectful and well behaved. How do you establish this?
BH: Discipline is essential. Everything that we do has to have some discipline, from getting up and getting yourself ready to come to school or to work in the morning. Discipline comes from listening and doing the right things. So, I start by setting expectations and I treat youngsters with respect. I don’t hold myself as a punisher and order kids around, but rather I put myself in their position and act in the way I would want an adult to make me feel comfortable. Most of all, I let these youngsters know that I really care about them and that they are important to me. That makes them trust me and not want to disappoint me.
HV: How do you convince youngsters that in the long run, academics are as important as, if not more so, than athletics?
BH: I emphasize that it you want to be successful in life, you have to go to college. Your diploma will help you make more money in whatever you do. Even all the famous rappers like Jay-Z associate themselves with colleges. You need to learn math so you can handle money and you need to learn reading and writing so you can have communication skills.
HV: When it comes to sports competitions, parents can be as problematic as students. So, how do you deal with the parents?
BH: I make the parents a part of the team. I meet with the parents as a group before practice begins and I explain the plan. I guarantee each parent that if their child comes to practice every day and if he is coachable, that he will get to play. I explain that the goal of each player is not to just score a touchdown but to be part of the team, or as I say, “A 1/11” (because there are 11 players on the football field).
All my parents are all part of my “Parents Touchdown Club,” meaning that they come every week to support the team, evening manning the concession stand and make sure that when the players come off the field they have cut up oranges.
The parents also ensure that if there anything that the school cannot provide, they provide and the parents take care of all the members of the team. For example, I had a student whose power at home was cut off because his parents couldn’t pay the electric bill. The other parents make sure that every day that child had food and other necessities.
HV: As a way to reach the youth of the community, you also began the Open Gym program. How did that work?
BH: The Open Gym program was designed as a way to get the middle school and high school youth off the streets and into a safe haven. The kids had nothing to do at night, so the program ran from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Janis E. Dismus Middle School in Englewood. The kids were allowed to make up the program themselves with activities they all enjoyed.
To enhance the program, I called upon influential members of the community such as Kevin Drakeford, Andre Hampton, Councilman Charles Cobb and Englewood police officers from the juvenile department, like Mike Chapman, to volunteer their time to speak and interact with the youth. Local fraternity brothers, along with Jeff Carter and Howard Horton, came and provided breakfast for the football players.
I also served as a liaison with parents to make sure students got the support they needed to stay in school and graduate.
HV: You are also an advocate for preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. What motivated you to take up this cause?
BH: Having lived through domestic violence as a child, I vowed to preach, teach and reach as many young men as I could through football. I advocate the Green Dot Program to all young athletes.
HV: What is the Green DOT program?
BH: The mission of this program is training students in bystander intervention to help prevent domestic violence and sexual abuse against women. The motto is, “If you see something, do something.” All DMHS athletes are part of this program.
HV: You have lived all your life in Englewood. What is it about this community that continues to inspire you?
BH: It’s a special place because of its diversity. I’ve been touched by people from all aspects and from all four wards. I see the beauty of the people, and when people do things together, it is so powerful. I want to be the person that inspires that. I know that together we can make 07631 the best place that you can possibly live!
