After failing to receive the Augusta State head basketball coaching position in May, Kerwin "Buck" Harris decided to take his career down a different path.
The longtime Jaguars assistant joined Division I Campbell University on Thursday in the same position. Since 1995, he served at Augusta State under two head coaches. A player from 1990-92, Harris also was the head coach of the school's women's cross country program.
"When you're at a level when you're ready to be a head coach and you don't get it, the next best thing is to be a D-I assistant," Harris said. "This is a good move for me."
The move means first-year coach Dip Metress, the sole member of the Augusta State coaching staff, has more recruiting to do. Metress said he will try to fill the position by the first week of August, and one of the likely candidates on his preliminary list is Jay Newberry, his assistant coach at Belmont Abbey.
"Now I have to sign nine players and an assistant coach," Metress said. "It's a good move for (Harris). I'm excited for him."
Harris joins a Campbell team, which plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference, that went 3-24 last year.
He will work under second-year head coach Robbie Laing as one of three assistants.
Harris worked on the Division I level before, serving one season at South Carolina State in 1994 before returning to his alma mater.
"Somebody that's been with you that long, he's part of the family," Augusta State athletic director Clint Bryant said. "But from what I understand, it's an excellent opportunity.
"I'm happy that he's happy."
Under former Augusta State head coach Gary Tuell, Harris helped lead the Jaguars to a 113-89 record the past seven seasons.
The Jaguars won five Peach Belt North Division titles and two conference tournament championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances in that span.
Harris stepped in for Tuell in January 2001, when Tuell underwent an emergency appendectomy. As the Jaguars' acting head coach, Harris led the team to a 4-1 mark.
When Tuell resigned in late April after taking the head coaching position at Nova Southeastern, Harris became one of the favorites for the Augusta State job. He was beaten out by Metress, also a former Jaguars assistant.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
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