Brandon Harris, a former second round NFL Draft pick, is in his first season as UCF football’s defensive backs coach in 2025. A name synonymous with football in the state of Florida, Harris joins the Knights after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the UCF program and compete at the highest level in the Big 12 Conference,” said Harris. “Growing up in South Florida, I’ve watched UCF build a dynamic football culture. Now getting a chance to be here and work with an outstanding group of student-athletes and coaches is an opportunity I’m beyond excited for."
Statistically, UCF had one of its best passing defenses in its FBS history in Harris' first season with UCF in 2025. The Knights defense allowed just 185.1 yards per game through the air in 2025, the third lowest clip since the Black and Gold became an FBS program in 1996 and the lowest since the 2001 season. UCF allowed just 13 passing touchdowns, eight less than the 2024 campaign. Following the slate of conference championship games, UCF sat third in the Big 12 and 25th in the nation in passing yards allowed, as well as fourth in the conference in total defense. Harris was named to the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute class at season's end.
Harris served as the Owls’ co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach in 2024, helping the squad tally 11 interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. FAU recorded at least one turnover in eight of its 12 games and ranked among the nation’s top 40 teams in red zone defense.
The Owls’ defense held seven teams to 25 points or fewer during the season, including AAC Champion Army, which went undefeated in conference action with an 8-0 record in The American.
With his assistance, true freshman defensive back CJ Heard was named a Third Team All-AAC Selection and led FAU with 82 tackles.
In 2023, Jarron Morris earned all-conference honors after leading the team in tackles for a loss with 7.5, pass breakups (6), interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2). FAU was third nationally in fewest penalties with 41, while tallying a pair of defensive touchdowns.
Harris helped establish FAU as an aggressive defense in his first season in 2022, as the Owls were tied for 12th nationally in defensive TDs, while picking off 12 passes.
Prior to his time in Boca Raton, Harris was the cornerbacks coach at FIU in 2021 and a defensive analyst at Florida State in 2020.
The South Florida native starred as a player at Miami, where he was a Phil Steele Second Team All-American and First Team All-ACC selection in 2009. Harris was a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive back, in 2009 and 2010.
During his 2009 standout season, he tied for second nationally with 15 pass breakups and third in passes defended (17). He also ranked third on the Hurricanes with 52 tackles.
Harris was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He played six seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins in addition to the Texans. He won a Grey Cup Championship with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 before launching his coaching career.
His father, Tim Harris Sr., is a high school coaching legend in the Miami area where Brandon starred as a player at Booker T. Washington Senior High School. Brandon is the younger brother of former UCF assistant coach, Tim Harris Jr., who was the Knights’ offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2024.