Football
- Title:
- Receivers Coach
- Email:
- lharris12@gardner-webb.edu
- Phone:
- (704) 406-3817
Assistant coach La’Donte Harris enters his fourth season at Gardner-Webb, and will continue to coach the team’s receivers. Several of his young receivers from last season return with more seasoning, which should help improve the Runnin’ Bulldogs through the air and in the perimeter run game in 2016.
Harris’ first two seasons proved his ability to develop talent, as receiver Kenny Cook finished his three-year career with more catches per game (5.2) than any man before him. His 188 catches are good for third-best overall at Gardner-Webb and he earned All-Big South Conference honors for the third year in a row in 2014. Cook, a two-time FCS All-America selection, signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 and rejoined the Chiefs’ roster during the 2016 offseason.
Harris also helped tight end Seth Cranfill flourish, with Cranfill setting a new Big South Conference career mark for receptions by a tight end. Cranfill earned Associated Press FCS All-America honors following the 2014 season and finished his career with league tight end marks for single-game, single season and career receptions.
Harris helped mold Cook in his first season, with Cook enjoying breakthrough results. The big receiver led the Big South Conference in catches (76), yards (1,008) and touchdowns (9) en route to FCS All-America honors from four different outlets. Cook was far from Gardner-Webb’s only receiving threat, as he was joined on the All-Big South Conference team by redshirt freshman tight end Mike Estes. Cook became the first receiver since 1992 to post a 1,000-yard season at Gardner-Webb, and is only the second man in school history to do so.
Harris spent the 2012 season at North Greenville University, where he served in the same role he will have in Boiling Springs. The Crusaders won five of their final six games, with four wins over members of the South Atlantic Conference, and Harris’ receivers played a big role in the team’s late success.
Receivers Freddie Martino and Taylor Malphrus each had 40-plus yard touchdown receptions in wins over Wingate and Brevard, respectively, and Malphrus had a pair of scoring runs in wins over Newberry and Wingate. Martino caught a team-high 49 passes on the season and Malphrus accounted for six touchdowns – including five on the ground. Martino went on to sign a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2014 NFL Draft.
Prior to his arrival in Tigerville, S.C., Harris spent the 2011 campaign on the player development staff at Clemson under longtime strength & conditioning coach Joey Batson. Harris worked with the Tigers’ offense from a strength and conditioning standpoint, and his time paid off – as Clemson experienced outstanding success.
The Tigers earned a berth in the ACC Championship Game and, following a dominant, 38-10 win over Virginia Tech, had the program’s first ACC crown since 1991 and an automatic berth in the Orange Bowl – the school’s first such berth since the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) inception. It was the Tigers’ first major bowl appearance since the historic 1982 Orange Bowl.
The Tigers finished ranked No. 22 in both major polls and defeated four top-25 opponents over the course of the season. The offense compiled 6,171 total yards and passed for 33 touchdowns in Chad Morris’ high-octane system.
Clemson finished the season ranked in the top-25 nationally in passing offense (No. 21), scoring offense (No. 24) in final NCAA team statistics, and saw quarterback Tajh Boyd finish ranked No. 18 individually in total offense per game (289.0 ypg). Receiver Sammy Watkins ranked No. 16 in receiving yards per game and ranked No. 4 nationally in all-purpose yardage.
Harris served as a graduate assistant with the Tigers’ offense in 2009 and 2010, working with receivers. Speedster Jacoby Ford went on to be drafted in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders. Aaron Kelly signed a free agent contact with the Atlanta Falcons
The Tigers finished with a 9-5 record (9-2 ACC) and a No. 24 ranking in 2009 after winning the Music City Bowl under first-year head coach Dabo Swinney. Harris was a student assistant with the Tigers in 2008, helping Clemson to a 7-6 record and a 31-14 win over rival South Carolina in the regular season finale. The 2008 Tigers played Nebraska in the 2009 Gator Bowl, falling 26-21 in a tight contest.
Harris lettered at receiver for the Tigers from 2004-2007, seeing action in 47 games. He caught a career-best 12 passes for 136 yards and a score in 2007 as a senior and returned a punt for a touchdown against South Carolina. Harris was one of only two true freshmen to see action in all 11 games in 2004. Harris finished his career with 24 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
Harris graduated from Clemson with a degree in sports management in 2008. He played high school football and basketball at Litchfield (Ala.) High in Gadsden, where he was runner up for Class AAA Back of the Year in Alabama. He earned All-State honors a senior and played quarterback, receiver, tailback and defensive back during his high school career.
He and his wife, Britney, have a daughter – Liyah.
