Brian Harris began his tenure as a volunteer assistant coach with the UIC Flames during the 2015-16 academic year and the 2016 baseball season.
In his first season in Windy City, Harris helped the Flames win 25 games. In addition, six UIC players were recognized as All-Horizon League performers with Harris' assistance.
The Nashville, Tenn., native played collegiately in his hometown at Vanderbilt University from 2006-10. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2006, Harris developed into a capable reserve in 2007. He appeared in 29 games and made eight starts, while hitting .283 with 12 runs scored.
In 2008, Harris displayed his versatility as he capably started 17 games at third base in place of an injured Pedro Alvarez, and 14 games at second base in place of an injured Alex Feinberg. He batted .268, scored 17 runs and drove in 23 runs, including three in a three-game series against UIC in early March.
Harris really blossomed as a redshirt junior in 2009 when he was a First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a SEC All-Defense Team member. He batted .299 with a team-high 65 runs scored and 45 RBI on the season. He played in all 64 games with 63 starts and finished second on the Commodores in both doubles (21) and walks (39).
During the 2010 season Harris hit .286 with five home runs and 34 RBI as he helped Vandy advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. He led the club with an on-base percentage of .489, while his 55 walks ranked as the fourth-most by any VU player. In addition, he was hit by a pitch 37 times, setting an NCAA Division I single-season record.
Harris majored in organizational leadership at Vanderbilt and he was a two-time Academic All-SEC performer.
The son of Robert and the late Cay Harris, he comes from a strong baseball lineage. His father, Robert, played collegiately at Vandy, as did his younger brother, Andrew.
