Coach Rodney Harris leads the Martin County Tigers to success
STUART, Fla. — The Martin County High School Tigers varsity football team welcomed Rodney Harris as head coach in 2018.
Harris was Palm Beach Central鈥檚 head coach from 2008-13 before leaving to join Glades Central. While with Palm Beach Central, he led the team to win two consecutive district titles in the 2012 and 2013 football seasons. He was fired at the end of the 2013 season due to different philosophies.
At Glades Central, he was a defensive coordinator from 2014-16. Harris continued teaching there until he was fully settled at Martin County in 2018.
By the end of 2017, the former head coach of the Martin County High School football team, Bill Cubit, resigned after working with the team for a year. In that one season, he led them to a record of 4-5.
Shortly afterward, the school hired Harris when the team needed someone who would bring out the players鈥� potentials to a point where they could compete with other teams and win.
The 47-year-old Harris was chosen out of 90 coaches who applied for the same job after making it through the school鈥檚 vetting process to the final stage. During the entire process, he stood out as someone with experience in playing and coaching football.
Prior to Harris taking over as head coach, the Tigers had failed to win the district title since 2006. Coach Harris led the team to an undefeated season (6-0), after which they took home the District 8-7A title in 2018.
According to a very impressed Harris, the players believed in each other and played excellently that night to create a legacy that would last a lifetime.
鈥淛axon Scott鈥檚 been great for us three years, and this is the moment he鈥檚 been waiting for,鈥� Harris after the final game against Dwyer. 鈥淭he O-Line did great, the defense did great, and our coaching staff, all of them, did a tremendous job together.”
Harris, who is excellent at coaching all stages of football, loves working with small communities. Having grown up in a similarly sized community, he understands the kids there and is really glad to be working with the Tigers.
“I think I鈥檓 great with kids, and I communicate well with the administration, parents, and the kids,鈥� he . 鈥淚 treat each of my players like they鈥檙e my own child.鈥�
Despite the pandemic challenges, Coach Harris and his team quickly returned to playing football while abiding by the safety protocols.
Currently standing at nine wins and one loss, the Tigers of Martin County are ranked No. 90 in Florida, 17th in Florida Division 7A and 5th in West Palm Beach.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are the 2021 District Champions, all thanks to the commitment and hard work of Coach Harris, the staff and athletes. They beat the Dwyer Panthers 24-0 to claim the title.
But the team isn鈥檛 all about delivering great football. Recently, the student athletes gave back to the community by helping out through community service, and their coach couldn鈥檛 have been prouder.
While Harris continues leading the Tigers to amazing games, fans will always show their support for the team by wearing blue on the stands.
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