Griffin Harris, former assistant coach to Jonathan Raper has now been hired as the new varsity baseball coach at Phil Campbell High School.
The hiring was approved at the July 11th Franklin County Board of Education meeting.
Harrison is a Phil Campbell graduate and was a standout athlete for the Bobcats.
“I grew up here and I’m thankful to be back and have the opportunity to hold the reins to the program,” Harris said.
Harrison began his career in 2013 as an assistant coach in 2013 at Tharptown High School. In 2014, Harris was named Tharptown varsity baseball coach and held that position for another year.
Harris then went to work at Phil Campbell where he assisted Raper for eight seasons. Harris was part of a coaching staff that led the Bobcats to a Class 3A state title in 2021, four straight final four appearances and multiple consecutive area and Franklin County championships.
“I’ve been coaching these kids so they know the process that I expect,” Harris said.
The hiring was recommended to the board by PCHS Principal Bart Moss.
“Harris was an obvious and easy choice for me. Harris’s resume was second to none. He has had championship experience as a player and championship experience as an assistant coach and as a head coach. He won the county championship at Tharptown as the head coach. He has exactly what Phil Campbell needed. He is also a teacher and that means a lot to me. He knows the kids and he knows how they act in class and the hallways and can hold them accountable,” Moss said.
The hire was recommended to the board by Franklin County Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton.
“Harris has been an important part of the coaching staff for many years. He is a former college player and had success at Tharptown as a head coach. I expect the same result as Phil Campbell's head coach,” Hamilton said.
Harris inherits a squad that graduated 12 seniors last season. He will be playing with a young team.
“Our team is young, but these guys have seen some of the most successful teams come through and I think all of them are ready to step up and contribute,” Harris said.
