MIAMI (Jan. 12, 2021) – Head Coach Butch Davis announced on Tuesday the restructuring of his 2021 coaching staff.
Tim Harris, Jr., who has overseen FIU’s dominant running back room since 2015, will be promoted to offensive coordinator while continuing to coach the running backs. Bryn Renner, former NFL and North Carolina Tar Heel quarterback, will switch from FIU’s cornerbacks coach to the quarterback position.
“I am very excited about the new roles for Coach Harris and Coach Renner,” Davis said. “Both are tremendous coaches who our players love and fight for. We are very excited about the new direction our offense will take this season.”
Harris, who owns an incredible reputation within the South Florida football community, will take over the reins of the FIU offense after spending six seasons on the staff. Harris’ running backs have consistently been the brightest spot of FIU’s football team in those six seasons as he has produced a pair of running backs that have made it to the NFL.
“First of all, I am so grateful and appreciative to Coach Davis for putting his trust in me and my body of work for this great opportunity,” Harris said. “I’m really excited to just get with our staff and work with our players. Our players are super excited about what’s ahead of us and we are already studying to be as well prepared as we can possibly be as an offensive unit.”
Renner, who has been with Davis all four seasons at FIU, will take over the familiar role of quarterbacks coach after two years coaching the cornerback position. Renner was one of the most decorated quarterbacks in UNC history, after rewriting the Tar Heel history books from 2011-13. Renner will also lend his NFL experience to FIU’s quarterbacks room, as he played for the Steelers, Chargers, Titans, Ravens and Broncos.
“I’m really excited and grateful to Coach Davis for the opportunity to get back on offense and to the position that I’ve played and have loved ever since I was a little kid,” Renner said. “It was an unbelievable learning experience to be on defense the last two years and it has ultimately made me a better coach. I look forward to the opportunity to coach these young men and help them reach their full potential.”
Following Renner’s move to the offensive side of the ball and Kenard Lang taking a head coaching position back home at Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Coach Davis has decided to make changes to the defensive staff as Jeff Copp and Jerod Kruse will not return next season.
“I have made the decision to go in a new direction on defense,” Davis said. “I want to thank Coach Copp, Coach Kruse and Coach Lang for their contributions to FIU and helping rebuild our football program. I’m optimistic we will have a defensive staff in place in the coming weeks.”
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