By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
June 13, 2002
Former Lamar School player and Meridian native Parker Harris has taken over a bigger role at Oak Hill Academy in West Point.
Harris was elevated to the head coaching position for both boys soccer and baseball at Oak Hill. He will also serve as Oak Hill's offensive coordinator for the football team.
Harris has been on staff at Oak Hill as a football and baseball assistant for the past two years. Before then he served a year as a student assistant at Oak Hill following a one-year stint as an assistant at Lamar School. This will be his fifth season as a coach.
Harris said he is looking forward to his first stint as a head coach but it will be a challenge. The Raider soccer program is still in its infancy stage but the baseball team could have another strong year.
Soccer, which is played during the winter, will present a tougher task.
Harris' first focus will be on football. He will run the offense for new Oak Hill head coach Charles Faulkner. Faulkner had been the head coach at Quitman for the past seven years. Last year, Faulkner led Quitman to its first playoff berth in school history. The Panthers went 9-3 and won their first round playoff game over McComb.
While Faulkner ran a balanced attack at Quitman, Harris said the Raiders will return to a power set this fall.
One of the highlights for Harris last season was Oak Hill's meeting with Lamar School. Oak Hill won 31-12, spoiling Lamar's homecoming.
Harris said he looks for Mac Barnes to continue turning around Lamar's football fortunes.
After graduating from Lamar, Harris played one year at Meridian Community College. He then went to Ole Miss where he received a degree in business.