Shannon Harris took over as interim head coach of the DC Defenders just a week before the UFL season started last year. Now, with that temporary tag removed and a championship under his belt, Harris credits the continuity of the Defenders’ coaches and staff for allowing him to flourish and setting up a strong chance at a repeat this season.
“One thing about it, our coaching staff and a lot of our players, we all rallied around each other, and our support staff did a great job of making sure everything stayed afloat,” Harris said on The Washington Times’ District of Sports podcast. “And so that was the biggest thing that made things so much comfortable for me.”
The UFL team has built a popular following in the District, and after knocking on the door of a title for a few seasons, DC finally broke through last year with a decisive, 58-34 victory over the Michigan Panthers. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 390 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in the title game.
“We had some instant success in year one, in 2023, to make it to the championship game,” said Harris, who was the Defenders’ QB coach before assuming the head role. “Didn’t come out the way we wanted it. So … let’s get back to some things that we’re comfortable with and surround him with the right pieces. And we did a good job of that.”
The championship year crystallized Harris’ leadership abilities and capacity to adjust, earning him the UFL’s Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year award and the permanent role after the season ended.
Harris detailed his whirlwind year on District of Sports — from being named interim coach just a week before the season started last March, to leading the Defenders to their first UFL championship, how he manages his role in Washington with also being the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Tennessee State, under former Defenders coach Reggie Barlow and how the Defenders’ 25 returning players set them up nicely for a chance at repeating this spring.
“To go out and do the things we did last season, that was amazing and spectacular for our guys,” Harris said, “and we’re looking to build on that momentum some more this season.”
The Defenders’ title defense begins March 28 at St. Louis, with the home opener at Audi Field two weeks later on April 11 — one of five games in the District this spring. And you can find District of Sports wherever you get your podcasts, just search District of Sports in your favorite podcast app.
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