Trent Harris

Biography

Trent Harris joined the Blue Devil gridiron program in February 2026 and serves as an assistant coach, working primarily with the defensive ends. A former defensive end under Manny Diaz at the University of Miami, Harris has coached outside linebackers at Illinois the last two years, helping the Fighting Illini to 19 wins, the program’s most in a two-year span. Harris assisted as Illinois captured six ranked wins, including victories against No. 14 South Carolina in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and No. 23 Tennessee in the 2025 Music City Bowl. In 2025, Harris coached All-Big Ten First Team selection Gabe Jacas to his best season in Champaign. Jacas led the Big Ten in sacks (11.0) during the regular season and ranked second in forced fumbles (3) and fourth in sack yards (60). Jacas went on to be the 55th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, going to the New England Patriots in the second round. Harris helped the defense have its best game of the 2025 season in the team's Music City Bowl victory over Tennessee, holding the Volunteers' offense, which ranked fourth in the nation in yards per game, to a season-low 278 total yards. Illinois limited Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar to a career-low 121 passing yards, 53 fewer than any other game in his career, and snapped his streak of 36 straight games throwing for more than 200 yards. Harris spent the 2024 season as the Illini's assistant outside linebackers coach, helping Illinois to one of its best seasons in program history. T