The Observer, January 26, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 14
Dennis Harris carries on the traditions of coaching legends at Case
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Track and field coach Dennis Harris could write a book about his 25 years of coaching at Case. He first came to the university as an assistant football coach and helped guide the Spartans to an undefeated season. He also coached a student drafted into the NFL.
"I've been very fortunate to coach lots of All-Americans and national champions. But the best part is that I've gotten to coach so many doctors, lawyers, and engineers," he said. "The biggest championship you can win is walking across the stage at graduation."
Harris has seen great coaches close up. As a wide receiver for Ohio State, he played under the legendary Woody Hayes.
"One thing people don't know about him is that he was one of the first people to have his players do volunteer work," Harris said. "I had the opportunity to do volunteer work assisting blind kids. It was one of the best things I got out of college."
Today, Harris administers the National Youth Sports Program at Case. The NYSP serves disadvantaged youth between the ages of 10 and 16. It provides sports and numerous other educational programs for inner city children. Many track athletes volunteer for the program.
"It's very rewarding to help out these kids," said Harris.
Case coaching legend Bill Sudeck taught Harris about coaching.
"A coach has to be humble. Coaching is teaching. In order to teach, you have to be able to learn," said Harris.
Another aspect of Harris' coaching style is that he strives to create more than just a team.
"The best compliment I've gotten was from Bill Sudeck. He said that I made a team a family."
Harris also wants his team to be relaxed.
"I try to take the pressure off the athletes," he said. "They have enough stress with their academics. I want track to be a release. All I ask is that they give their best every day."
Coaching track and field presents special challenges. First, the sport is so diverse. In indoor track, distances vary from 55 to 5000 meters. There's also a myriad of jumping and throwing events. Holding a large, diverse team together is a difficult task. Not only does it require a vast knowledge of the sport, which Harris has accumulated over decades of coaching, but it also requires a personality that can handle all kinds of people. As the head of the track and field program, Harris coaches both men and women.
"It's one big program. I don't separate the men and women. They train together. The men benefit from the ladies, and vice versa," he said.
The women's throws team may be the best in school history, according to Harris. Leading the squad is Elizabeth Ehrke, who was conference champion last year in the discus.
"We have a very hard-working throws team this year," Harris said.
Another exciting group is the women's distance team. Junior cross country All-American Esther Erb will lead a squad that finished 10th at the national tournament. Senior Emily Bruckner, the backbone of the women's squad, will compete in the long jump and 200-meter dash.
On the men's side, the throwing team will look to continue its domination of the UAA. Harris will look for great things from seniors Pat Benasutti and Paul Hannen. "We've had a rock solid team in the past, and we want to add to that legacy this year," junior Brandon Jeffries said.
The base of the men's distance squad will be what Harris calls the "super sophomores" who include Mike Petro, Dominic Smith, Ryan Gjoraas, and Michael Werneiwski. Senior Stephen Hrinda will lead the distance team.
Harris isn't worried about where the team will wind up in the UAA.
"I'm going to teach and the athletes are going to work hard," Harris said. "The rest will take care of itself."
