Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

Steven Harris joined the Rensselaer football staff in August 2014.

In his first season with the Engineers, the team rushed for 2,588 yards and 16 touchdowns on 559 carries in 2014. Runners averaged 235.5 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry and two were All-Liberty League honorees (Reggie Colas & Matt Lane).

A native of Nottoway, Va., he earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance with a minor in coaching from Ferrum College in Virginia in 2012 and a Master's of Education in Adult Education from Muskingum University in Ohio in April.

He also coached football at both institutions, serving as assistant wide receivers coach at Muskingum and as an intern at Ferrum. For the past two years he prepared the wideouts, while also assisting the offensive coordinator with all aspects of the passing game. Harris also worked with the return specialists, helped coach the junior varsity and assist the strength & conditioning staff. He was monitored team member's academic progress and was responsible for recruiting, covering southwest Ohio and five states. He had similar responsibilities at Ferrum, where he was a student assistant for two years before spending the spring of 2012 in an internship. Positionally he worked with the running backs.

Harris was a standout running back for the Panthers, earning All-USA South Honorable Mention in 2009 and 2010 and First Team in 2011. A captain as a senior, he was presented the Ferrum Football Leadership Program Award in 2011 and the Big Green Award in 2012. A Dean's List student, he was Academic All-Conference three times and Academic All-State twice. He was also involved in several clubs and organizations and interned at Life's Academy Alternative School, assisting grade school and high school students in a variety of ways, including with their school work.