The City of Prichard honored legendary football coach Ben Harris with all-day celebrations, recognizing decades of leadership on-and-off the field.
Ben Harris, the legendary former head coach of Mattie T. Blount High School, built one of Alabama’s most dominant football programs. He led the Blount Leopards to win 135 games over 19 years, and crafted a consistently winning team that registered only 22 wins in the preceding seven years.
Harris’ career has been recognized at every level of the sport, earning him the NFL High School Coach of the Year award in 1997, Alabama’s High School Coach of the Year twice and the AHSAA 5A Coach of the Year title four times. He was welcomed into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also inducted into the Alabama State University Hall of Fame in 2024. On June 14, 2025 Harris was inducted into the National High School Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, which solidified his reputation as one of the most highly regarded members of the sport.
They say, ‘coach you were a blessing to the kids’, I say no, ‘the kids were a blessing to me’.
Harris influenced the lives of many young athletes. He mentored many stars such as Sherman Williams, Dameyune Craig and DeMarco McNeil, leading to college and professional careers. LaMont Robinson, chairman of the National High School Football Hall of Fame, noted that ”Ben’s dedication to football, his ability to inspire and develop, and his exemplary record as both a player and coach make him a deserving member of this [2025] year’s class”. He stands as a role model for future generations of coaches and players.”
“Coach Harris didn’t just coach football, he coached life, and taught responsibility in community that went far beyond the field.”
– Sherman Williams
For the City of Prichard, celebrating the accomplishments of Coach Ben Harris means more than just acknowledging athletic achievements, it means recognizing the impact on-and-off the field. His legacy is embedded in the strength of discipline of former players, the pride of the City of Prichard, and the theme that he taught, “service and character are just as relevant as ability”.
Celebrating the story of Coach Ben Harris serve as a reminder of how legacy should not be solely measured by wins, but by the impact of individuals and community.
