Jebreh Harris is the new head coach of Azusa Pacific cross country and will serve as an assistant coach for Cougar track & field, as Director of Athletics Gary Pine and head coach of track & field Jack Hoyt made the announcement today.

"We are eager for Jebreh to get started here at Azusa Pacific," said Pine, "He brings a wealth of coaching experience at an elite level and he will make an immediate impact that will further strengthen our distance program."

Harris arrives at Azusa Pacific after spending the last four years at the University of Southern California, where he started as an assistant coach for distances and cross country in the fall of 2020, before becoming the associate head coach of cross country/assistant track & field for the Trojans in the summer of 2021. During his time at USC, Harris helped the Trojans to an Outdoor National Championship on the women's side in 2021, and a 3rd place finish at outdoor nationals on the men's side in 2024. Under his coaching, several athletes broke school records, including Isaiah Jewett, who made the U.S. Olympic team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Jewett not only broke the 800 meter school record, but his time won him the NCAA individual title in the event. 

In addition to his time with USC, Harris also coached two seasons at Illinois, six at UNLV, two at South Carolina State and five seasons at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. During his time at UNLV, Harris' athletes won five individual and five relay conference titles, set six school records, and the Rebels were the 2018 Mountain West Indoor conference champions. As a volunteer assistant at Tennessee, Harris helped the Vols capture the 2003 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship.

"We are really excited to add Jebreh to our coaching staff," said Hoyt, "His drive for excellence, desire to build relationships, and commitment to Christ, cemented my feelings that he was the right choice to lead Cross Country and distance running at Azusa Pacific."

Over his 14 years of collegiate coaching, Harris has amassed a long list of achievements. Harris has coached 2 conference championship teams, one Olympian, one NCAA National Champion, and seven USTFCCCA All-Americans. Under his leadership, 23 athletes have qualified for the NCAA championships, and 13 have earned individual conference championship titles. Harris has also played a pivotal role in developing academically successful teams, with eight USTFCCCA All-Academic Women's Cross Country teams under his belt. His influence extends beyond collegiate competition, having coached athletes who set national records for Trinidad & Tobago and the US Virgin Islands, and guided participants in events like the 2023 U23 NACAC Championships and the Thorpe Cup.

In addition to collegiate coaching, Harris brings a wealth of international coaching experience, having served on the Team USA coaching staff four times between 2016 and 2020. His roles included the Event Manager at the 2016 U23 North American Central American Championships, the men's distance coach for the 2018 U20 IAAF World Team, and the women's distance coach at the 2019 U20 Pan American Games. In 2020, Harris was selected as the men's and women's distance coach for the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Prior to starting his coaching career, Harris was an elite athlete himself. Harris was a finalist in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials and was ranked as the No. 2 800m runner in the USA in 2007 by Track and Field News. In 2006, he set an American record in the 4x800m relay with a time of 7:02.82 in Brussels and secured third place in the 800m at the USATF Outdoor Championship. His collegiate career was equally impressive, as a member of the 2001 NCAA and SEC Championship teams at the University of Tennessee, where he also set a school record in the indoor DMR and earned accolades as a two-time All-American and All-SEC athlete. Harris's leadership skills were also prominent, having served as team captain at Alabama State University in 1998, where he also earned All-SWAC Cross Country honors. His dedication to track and field was recognized when he was awarded the Most Dedicated Senior in 2001.

"I want to thank Gary Pine, Keith Hall, and Coach Jack Hoyt for being such awesome and gracious people," said Harris, "I am blessed to have this position at Azusa Pacific, and I look forward to giving what I have to the university. Azusa Pacific University is a great institution led by great people. That is why I chose Azusa Pacific. Coach Hoyt is a proven leader and champion, and I want to make sure I do my part to contribute to his program. I am tasked with continuing the great tradition of coaches and athletes who came before me. With that being said, it is a blessing and an honor to join the Azusa Pacific family. I am grateful."