J’Me Harris Tazewell Head Coach Resigns

[Gridiron1960]

Coach Harris resigned and has accepted a position at Northgate in Pittsburgh, PA as an offensive coordinator.

J’Me Harris resigns as Tazewell’s head coach

Harris has accepted the position as offensive coordinator at Northgate High School

www.wvva.com

 

[7MileFord]

From the outside looking in - they shouldn’t have any trouble getting applicants. Brand new turf field & track, a newer two story field house with a big weight room. They always seem to have a good pipeline of athletes that come through the program and great fan support.

Coach Harris gave someone a late Christmas present by resigning.

 

[Gridiron1960]

From the outside looking in - they shouldn’t have any trouble getting applicants. Brand new turf field & track, a newer two story field house with a big weight room. They always seem to have a good pipeline of athletes that come through the program and great fan support.

Coach Harris gave someone a late Christmas present by resigning.

He did a good job reviving the program. He definitely left it in better shape than when he came.

 

[Fairlawncat]

If I'm Tazewell, I'm driving the 15 or 20 miles up the road and having a convo with Palmer in Bluefield. Not the Head Coach Palmer, but the DC at Graham named Dennis Palmer who is arguably the best in Class 2 Virginia and the secret sauce to Graham's success. I would also take a look at Bill Dudley who I've known for years. We played against each other in HS when I was at Radford. Bill absolutely knows football and has helped out on and off over the years with Tazewell's program. Bill is the great nephew of the legendary NFL Hall of Famer and former Graham/UVA legend "Bullet" Bill Dudley.

 

[Gridiron1960]

If I'm Tazewell, I'm driving the 15 or 20 miles up the road and having a convo with Palmer in Bluefield. Not the Head Coach Palmer, but the DC at Graham named Dennis Palmer who is arguably the best in Class 2 Virginia and the secret sauce to Graham's success. I would also take a look at Bill Dudley who I've known for years. We played against each other in HS when I was at Radford. Bill absolutely knows football and has helped out on and off over the years with Tazewell's program. Bill is the great nephew of the legendary NFL Hall of Famer and former Graham/UVA legend "Bullet" Bill Dudley.

I see absolutely no upside to Snake leaving Graham for Tazewell, lol. GMen have won 3 state titles since 2018 and could possibly win another one in the next 4 years. He’s definitely one of the best if not the best defensive minds in the state. I can’t see him jumping ship to wear the Bulldog green. Dudley might be interested or maybe someone from another school outside Tazewell County. If Tazewell was smart, they’d bring in an outsider.

 

[Hokie1Pokie]

New coach has 2 come N thar an have sit down an poop rite in thar. Set tone early an tell em u gonna git down or u gonna lay down. Now we havin a vote on ringz frum day 1. This hurt Harris. No vote on ringz all dem years. New coach makes em vote an he gonna do good

 

[OCBoy]

Coach Harris resigned and has accepted a position at Northgate in Pittsburgh, PA as an offensive coordinator.

J’Me Harris resigns as Tazewell’s head coach

Harris has accepted the position as offensive coordinator at Northgate High School

www.wvva.com

He really didn’t do much. Yes, he left it better than he took it but what did he really win?

 

[WP02alum]

I don’t know the guy or his work, but if he improved the structure and direction of the program, there’s your answer. This is HS sports. It’s not solely wins and losses that determine if someone is successful in a coaching role.

 

[Gridiron1960]

I don’t know the guy or his work, but if he improved the structure and direction of the program, there’s your answer. This is HS sports. It’s not solely wins and losses that determine if someone is successful in a coaching role.

They had several playoff appearances, a couple players got VHSL records, and several players have gone on to play ball at the collegiate level. The players & community seemed to really like & respect him.

 

[Fairlawncat]

Harris improved the program from where it was, but he had a ceiling also. Tazewells program was one of the worst in Class 2 Virginia when he got there and he made them competitive. But, if anyone's ever seen Tazewell on the field, they are arguably the 2nd most talented team in Region D behind Graham over the last 10 years. Union has a say so for being more talented than Tazewell, but that gap is actually narrow and way closer than most outside of the west realize. Tazewell is regularly more talented than Gate City and Ridgeview. That's been the knock on him.

I watched Tazewell and Riverheads in 2023 at Tazewell. The Riverheads team poured it on them in the 2nd half and Riverheads played for the state title that year against us. Riverheads was the second most talented team on the football that day in Tazewell. Yes, he was great with community support and motivation and community buy in, but xs and os wise and discipline wise regarding off sides, fumbles, on the field stuff, he was average and that equals 6 and 4 football teams.

 

[19GHS87]

He really didn’t do much. Yes, he left it better than he took it but what did he really win?

2nd place in the SWD 3 times... when Graham is in the district, what do you expect? They did better then any other team in the SWD during his time there and beat their rival, Richlands 3 of the last 4 years. Not too shabby. I think the team they had during the COVID year was outstanding, losing to Graham on a 2 point conversion that came up about 2 inches short (I thought the kid was in....). Should have beaten Graham that day, they were the better team.

 

[WP02alum]

Seems fair. He noticeably improved the program and was a big success in community relations. Seems like a good coach. I think there’s a lot to celebrate in a coach like that. I also think it’s fair to point out the ceiling, but that criticism only goes so far IMO.

 

[19GHS87]

Harris improved the program from where it was, but he had a ceiling also. Tazewells program was one of the worst in Class 2 Virginia when he got there and he made them competitive. But, if anyone's ever seen Tazewell on the field, they are arguably the 2nd most talented team in Region D behind Graham over the last 10 years. Union has a say so for being more talented than Tazewell, but that gap is actually narrow and way closer than most outside of the west realize. Tazewell is regularly more talented than Gate City and Ridgeview. That's been the knock on him.

I watched Tazewell and Riverheads in 2023 at Tazewell. The Riverheads team poured it on them in the 2nd half and Riverheads played for the state title that year against us. Riverheads was the second most talented team on the football that day in Tazewell. Yes, he was great with community support and motivation and community buy in, but xs and os wise and discipline wise regarding off sides, fumbles, on the field stuff, he was average and that equals 6 and 4 football teams.

You forgot to mention not sending anybody back to field a punt and having "zero" plays under center. They had numerous short yardage situations to come up short, simply because they were snapping the ball in shotgun 100% of the time. At least, I don't recall seeing them under center in one single game that I saw them in. Even, when the backups came in. I think some of their fan base were upset that he had such a pass first mentality. The past 2 seasons, Tazewell has had a huge Offensive line and some big boys that could tote the rock. I for one could not understand why they didn't have some power running plays mixed in with their offense. Against Graham last year, their QB got hurt and they went to the wildcat and it was obviously that they were totally unprepared for that, basically snapped the ball to the RB with nobody in front of him to block, it was baffling. It's like they only practiced stuff with 4 or 5 wide receivers and had no backup plan.

 

[Fairlawncat]

Seems fair. He noticeably improved the program and was a big success in community relations. Seems like a good coach. I think there’s a lot to celebrate in a coach like that. I also think it’s fair to point out the ceiling, but that criticism only goes so far IMO.

I agree that critique of a ceiling only goes so far. Equally important, successful community relations also only goes so far.

 

[Fairlawncat]

My cousin and I watched the NFHS gsme of Giles and Tazewell. Tazewell was 28 points better than Giles in talent and Giles beat em over in Pearisburg. Credit Harris for solid community support and interest and Tazewell on the video looked like they brought a big crowd to Pearisburg which is largely due to the HC, but there is still.......the actual game to be played on the field. The xs and os, mental toughness, scheming of O and D does matter.

Again, I just don't think most people outside of far southwestern va realize the talent Tazewell has. With the right coach, they could be a major problem in Class 2 like they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. But, you could have a field genius and if the guy isn't good at community interest and support (Harris certainly was) then he won't do that great. Both matter.

 

[Gridiron1960]

My cousin and I watched the NFHS gsme of Giles and Tazewell. Tazewell was 28 points better than Giles in talent and Giles beat em over in Pearisburg. Credit Harris for solid community support and interest and Tazewell on the video looked like they brought a big crowd to Pearisburg which is largely due to the HC, but there is still.......the actual game to be played on the field. The xs and os, mental toughness, scheming of O and D does matter.

Again, I just don't think most people outside of far southwestern va realize the talent Tazewell has. With the right coach, they could be a major problem in Class 2 like they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. But, you could have a field genius and if the guy isn't good at community interest and support (Harris certainly was) then he won't do that great. Both matter.

Harris is an alright guy who did some good things but he definitely wasn’t an xs/os guy. Tazewell had a lot of talent squandered. Hopefully, they get someone who can get kids out, knows how to run a program and a game, and has community support. Tazewell has a lot of athletes if they can find the right coach to cultivate that talent.

 

[kwhs95fan]

As a neutral observer, my take on Tazewell in recent years were they had athletes and a really good QB, but like the case with many Air Raid teams, they lacked the physicality on both sides of the ball. You can have all the fancy offenses you want and great stats, but the game is still won and lost in the trenches, and from what I saw, they lacked that.

 

[19GHS87]

My cousin and I watched the NFHS gsme of Giles and Tazewell. Tazewell was 28 points better than Giles in talent and Giles beat em over in Pearisburg. Credit Harris for solid community support and interest and Tazewell on the video looked like they brought a big crowd to Pearisburg which is largely due to the HC, but there is still.......the actual game to be played on the field. The xs and os, mental toughness, scheming of O and D does matter.

Again, I just don't think most people outside of far southwestern va realize the talent Tazewell has. With the right coach, they could be a major problem in Class 2 like they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. But, you could have a field genius and if the guy isn't good at community interest and support (Harris certainly was) then he won't do that great. Both matter.

Living in the area, Tazewell has had a great fan base, even when they were at rock bottom. I think that will still be there, regardless of the coach. That community supports their sports very well

 

[19GHS87]

As a neutral observer, my take on Tazewell in recent years were they had athletes and a really good QB, but like the case with many Air Raid teams, they lacked the physicality on both sides of the ball. You can have all the fancy offenses you want and great stats, but the game is still won and lost in the trenches, and from what I saw, they lacked that.

They have had some big boys and plenty of size, but I agree with you, they weren't in as good of shape as the teams they faced. That takes dedication and commitment in the off-season and hopefully the right guy will get that going.

 

[kwhs95fan]

They have had some big boys and plenty of size, but I agree with you, they weren't in as good of shape as the teams they faced. That takes dedication and commitment in the off-season and hopefully the right guy will get that going.

Agreed. You can't just show up in July and think you're gonna win a championship, when all the elite teams have been lifting since January

 

[Army2002]

Didnt Harris take over from Shane Allen?

 

[Fairlawncat]

Didnt Harris take over from Shane Allen?

Yep.
Tazewell has had great size on the OL but their strength and conditioning in the off-season was weak at best. This area is where Graham and Union dominate Region D. Both teams have elite strength and conditioning coaches for the HS level and the cat at Graham is closer to being on a major college/semi-professional level.

 

[WP02alum]

I agree that critique of a ceiling only goes so far. Equally important, successful community relations also only goes so far.

For sure. If I’m hiring, I probably hire the community support guy with instructions to hire X’s and O’s staff to compensate.