JONESBORO (1/15/08) ? Arkansas State Head Football Coach Steve Roberts announced Monday that Maurice Harris, a former Arkansas State graduate and football letterman, has been hired as an assistant football coach for the Indians.

Harris returns to his alma mater as tight ends coach after serving as Alabama State's offensive coordinator and running backs coach during the 2007 season.  He replaces Tate Behne, who recently resigned his post as tight ends coach to pursue other professional opportunities.

“We are very excited about the addition of Maurice Harris to our staff,” said Roberts.  “He is an Arkansas State alumni and former member of the Indians' football program.  He comes to us with a tremendous reputation as an outstanding recruiter and he has experienced success as a head high school coach in Memphis, as a position coach and as an offensive coordinator.”

“My wife and I both graduated from Arkansas State and we are very excited about coming back,” said Harris.  “I really appreciate the opportunity Coach Roberts has given me.  I look forward to hitting the ground running with recruiting and building on the foundation that Coach Roberts and the staff have set here.”

Harris worked with Alabama State Head Coach Reggie Barlow to design the overall offensive game plan and calling plays, according to the Hornets' 2007 football media guide.  He helped the offense improve its total yards and points from the previous season and coached the Southwestern Athletic Conference's leading rusher and MVP Jay Peck.

Prior to his return to Alabama State, where he also served as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2004-05, Harris spent the 2006 season as Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Football Operations at the University of Mississippi.

During his first stint at Alabama State, Harris helped lead the football team to a 10-2 record in 2004 and the SWAC championship.  In addition to his duties as a position coach, Harris was responsible for organizing and planning the Hornets recruiting strategy.

Harris was a four-year letterman with the Indians, including the 1996 season when he recorded a team-high 100 tackles from his safety position, and after earning his bachelor's degree from ASU in 1998, went to Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., as an assistant coach.

He headed Whitehaven's offense, which was tops in the area, and improved its yardage by more than 100 yards per game from the previous season.  He was promoted to head coach at Whitehaven two years later and was named West Tennessee Coach of the Year in 2001 after leading his team to the city and region championships in 2001.

He followed the 2001 campaign up with another city title in 2002 and was named assistant coach in two all-star games.  He was named head coach for the Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game in Tennessee.