MIAMI – On the eve of National Signing Day, a head football coach at a prominent Miami high school is taking a hard stance against new Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin on the recruiting trail.
Booker T. Washington Senior High School coach Tim "Ice" Harris said Tuesday that he's not discussing other players from his team with Kiffin because of his handling of linebacker Isaac Readon.
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Harris said Kiffin left Readon's football future in doubt after the former Alabama offensive coordinator took over for Charlie Partridge, who was fired in December after three consecutive three-win seasons at FAU.
"Unfortunately, the coach that recruited us … ended up getting fired," Harris told Local10.com.
Harris, who used to be a running backs coach at the University of Miami, said Readon was recruited by FAU early and committed early, turning down overtures from other schools during the recruiting process.
After Partridge was fired, Harris said, Readon remained committed to FAU and was led to believe that the school was still committed to him. However, that all changed when Harris received a telephone call from Kiffin.
Harris said Kiffin called about another player from Booker T. Washington. Harris explained that he wanted to talk about Readon first, but Kiffin told him that he "wasn't sure" and hadn't seen any film on him.
"I know when them words there cross, it's not good," Harris said.
Harris said his players are like his children, so he took the slight personally.
"He gave up everything to go there," Harris said of Readon.
Harris said no other schools that were interested in Readon are pursuing him because now they all have full signing classes.
"He's hurt," Harris said of his player left at the football altar. "He's hurt big time."
Harris said he thought he was doing the right thing by advising Readon to honor his commitment and not pursue other offers.
"In this case, it backfired," Harris said.
Thirteen student-athletes from Booker T. Washington are expected to sign letters of intent Wednesday. Harris said six of them will be signing with schools that transitioned coaches.
Harris said he wishes the FAU coaching staff well and believes the Owls will do well under Kiffin. But he wants to make sure that Kiffin and any other college coach knows that the student-athletes have to come first.