Trent Harris Joins Duke Football as Assistant Coach
In an exciting development for Duke football, head coach Manny Diaz has brought in Trent Harris as an assistant coach to mentor the Blue Devil defensive ends. Harris, who played as a defensive end under Diaz at the University of Miami, brings a wealth of experience from his coaching stint at Illinois.
During his time with the Fighting Illini, Harris played a pivotal role in the team's impressive performance over the last two years, guiding them to 19 wins-a record for the program in such a span. His coaching prowess was evident in Illinois’ six victories over ranked teams, including notable wins against No.
14 South Carolina in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and No. 23 Tennessee in the 2025 Music City Bowl.
Harris' coaching acumen shone through in 2025 as he guided Gabe Jacas to an All-Big Ten First Team selection. Jacas dominated the Big Ten with 11 sacks, ranked second in forced fumbles, and was fourth in sack yards.
Under Harris’ leadership, Illinois' defense delivered a standout performance in the Music City Bowl, holding Tennessee's high-powered offense to just 278 total yards, a season-low for the Volunteers. They also limited Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar to a mere 121 passing yards, ending his 36-game streak of 200-yard passing games.
In 2024, Harris took the reins as Illinois' assistant outside linebackers coach and contributed to one of the program's best seasons, finishing 10-3. He stepped up to lead the linebackers for the final four games, mentoring a formidable group that included All-America honoree Jacas. Jacas excelled under Harris’ guidance, especially in the Citrus Bowl, where he disrupted South Carolina’s offense with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Before his coaching career, Harris enjoyed a seven-year professional playing career across the NFL, XFL, and UFL. At Miami, he was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to consistent success, culminating in a senior year that saw him earn All-ACC Third Team honors with 37 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. His collegiate career wrapped up with impressive stats, including 126 tackles and 15 sacks.
After college, Harris signed with the New England Patriots, contributing to their Super Bowl LIII-winning season on the practice squad. He then played for the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.
In 2023, he earned All-XFL honors with the Houston Roughnecks, leading the league in sacks. He concluded his playing career with the UFL's DC Defenders in 2024.
Harris graduated from Miami with a degree in public relations and is married to Abriana since 2021. His addition to Duke’s coaching staff promises to bring a new level of expertise and energy to the Blue Devil defense.