First Black LSU football coach Bishop Harris dead at 82

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — LSU announced on Thursday, May 30, that the first Black football coach in LSU history passed away on Wednesday.

Bishop Harris, 82, died on Wednesday, May 29 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

According to LSU Athletics, Harris became LSU’s first Black assistant football coach when Bo Rein hired him on Dec. 12, 1979. He was later joined on the 1980 staff by Otis Washington.

Harris would coach the outside linebackers for the LSU football team from 1980-83. According to LSU Athletics, he coached some of the best players at their position, including Lyman White, Tim Joiner, Rydell Malancon and Gregg Dubroc.

After leaving LSU, Harris had stints at Notre Dame, Minnesota and North Carolina Central. Following his stint at North Carolina Central, Harris moved on to the NFL, where he served in coaching roles for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers, according to LSU Athletics.

“In the NFL, Harris coached future Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin with the New York Jets along with All-Pro Frank Gore with the 49ers,” LSU Athletics said in a news release.

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