Bobby Babich and Tim Harris, Jr., Join Head Coach Butch Davis’ Staff
Head Coach Butch Davis announced on Monday the addition of Bobby Babich and Tim Harris, Jr., to the FIU football staff. Babich and Harris, Jr., both assistant coaches for the Panthers in 2016, are the first two members of Coach Davis' staff. Both are currently out on the road recruiting. "I am thrilled that Bobby Babich and Tim Harris, Jr., are going to be part the FIU coaching staff," Davis said. "Not only are they both outstanding coaches, but they are both good men." Babich, who will serve as secondaries coach, just finished his first season with FIU, beginning the season in the same capacity before being named interim defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the final eight games. Under Babich, the Panthers saw linebackers Treyvon Williams and Anthony Wint finish in the top 10 in total tackles with 109 and 108, respectively.
He also guided a secondary, featuring All-C-USA candidate Isaiah Brown, who led the team with three interceptions and seven pass breakups. Babich came to FIU with a decade of experience, including five years in the NFL. Following a brief stint at Edinboro University (defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2016), Babich served as the assistant secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns for three years (2013-15), working with the safeties. Before joining the Browns, Babich spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a defensive assistant (2012) and administrative assistant for the coaching staff (2011). He assisted with day-to-day operations and worked with the nickelbacks.
Prior to joining the Panthers, Babich served as secondary coach at Eastern Illinois University from 2007-10. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Babich began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant at Kent State. Harris, Jr., who will serve as running backs coach, wrapped up his second season with FIU in the same role. This past season, FIU recorded the third-most rushing yards in school history (1,783), while junior Alex Gardner became the school's all-time leading rusher (2,272). For the second-straight season, the Panthers increased their totals in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns from the year before. Harris, Jr., came to FIU after one year as the head coach of Booker T. Washington High School.
In his first season as head coach, Harris, Jr., the Class 4A Coach of the Year and the son of legendary Washington coach and two-time Florida Dairy Farmers Coach-of-the-Year Tim "Ice" Harris (2012, 2013), led the Tornadoes to their second-straight 14-0 record, their third-straight Class 4A state title and a No. 2 final national ranking (USA Today). Harris, Jr., was named the 2014 Florida Dairy Farmers Football Coach of the Year, the 2014 Miami Dolphins George Smith South Florida High School Football Coach of the Year, the 2014 NIKE Football State Coach of the Year and a finalist for the 2014 U.S. Army All-American National Coach of the Year. Prior to taking over the reins in 2014, Harris, Jr., was the offensive coordinator for the Tornadoes for five seasons. During that time he also coached wide receivers and quarterbacks.
He also served as the Tornadoes' Head Track & Field Coach from 2010-2014. He was awarded the Miami-Dade County Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2013. Other additions to Coach Davis' staff will be announced as they are finalized.