Kenny Harrison addressed his Memorial High School football team Wednesday and announced his decision to step down to take the head coach/campus coordinator position at Summer Creek High School in the Humble Independent School District.

“Leaving these kids is the saddest thing I had to do,” Harrison told The News.

The Humble district approved Harrison’s hiring in a board meeting Tuesday.

“This is by far the most difficult decision I’ve made in my entire career simply because of the kids here in Port Arthur,” Harrison said. “I feel the program is headed in the right direction. I think a coach can come in with some fresh ideas who can take it to the next level. I love the kids here and I want to see them ultimately win a championship. That was my ultimate goal here.”

Humble ISD athletic director Troy Kite called Harrison an “extremely attractive” candidate who’s been successful as a head coach.

“We were looking for a coach with proven head coaching experience. Kenny certainly met that,” Kite said.

“His personality, his enthusiasm, his zest for the game” were also positive qualities of Harrison’s that Kite cited. “He’s excited about coaching the game of football,” he added.

Harrison said Wednesday afternoon he was in the process of turning in a letter of resignation to Port Arthur ISD Superintendent Mark Porterie. The next PAISD board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Memorial cafeteria, where Harrison’s resignation is expected to be approved.

“The PAISD congratulates Coach Kenny Harrison and his family on his appointment as Head Football Coach of Summer Creek HS in Humble,” Porterie wrote in a statement to The News. “We are happy for the Harrison family as they write the next chapter of their lives but are saddened by the move of such a wonderful family. Coach Harrison and Mrs. [Latania] Harrison along with their children are lifelong residents of Port Arthur and have been a huge part of the success of our community. Coach Harrison has been a successful coach and role model in our schools. He has led the team to district championships and has created a path for many students to enter and become successful in post-secondary studies. Coach Harrison will be missed in our schools and community.”

Porterie added a plan of action to fill the impending vacancy will be followed as quickly as possible.

Harrison, a 1991 Thomas Jefferson graduate and former University of Texas wide receiver, posted a 69-36 record over nine years at Memorial, earning two 10-win seasons (13-2 in 2011 and 10-2 in 2016) and shares of the District 22-5A championship in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Titans reached the third round, or regional semifinal, of the 5A Division I playoffs both seasons, their highest finish since linebacker Elandon Roberts led Memorial to a state semifinal appearance in what is now 6A Division II in 2011, a loss to Cibolo Steele.

Harrison has coached in the Port Arthur ISD his entire career. He started at Jefferson in 1997 and was an assistant at Memorial from the school’s establishment in 2002 to his promotion to head coach in 2009. He was president of the Greater Houston Coaches Association from 2014-15 and is a Region 5 board member along with Memorial assistant coach Thomas Brooks for the Texas High School Coaches Association.

Harrison’s hiring at Humble came six days after National Signing Day, when a record 15 Memorial football players signed letters of intent to colleges and universities during a rock concert-like ceremony, which has become an annual event under Harrison. During the ceremony, which followed current New England Patriot Roberts’ retirement of his high school jersey No. 44, Harrison boasted about Memorial’s athletic excellence amid negative comments about Port Arthur, adding the city has “the best kids in Texas.”

“My heart is with these kids because I know what type of kids we have here,” Harrison said Wednesday.

Kite said he was “a little bit concerned” leaving Port Arthur might have been too tough for Harrison to do, since he’s lived there almost his entire life. Harrison is married with two children, his oldest Kadon attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as a freshman quarterback for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

During the interview process, Harrison became emotional about his time in Port Arthur, Kite said.

“We were looking for a family to come join us,” Kite said. “If you don’t bring the family, you struggle one way or another.”

Harrison did not attend Humble ISD’s board meeting Tuesday night. The district was rolling out plans for a bond measure that will be voted on later during a lengthy meeting, Kite said.

Harrison replaces Brian Ford, who had been Summer Creek’s coach since the school opened in 2009 and is retiring. Ford went 53-32 with the Bulldogs and 7-4 this season.

It is not known if any of Harrison’s assistants will follow him to Summer Creek, but Kite — who supervises athletic departments at five high schools — trusts that Harrison will organize a solid staff at his new workplace. Each head football coach in the Humble ISD is a campus coordinator, and Harrison’s impending departure will leave boys basketball coach Kenneth Coleman as Memorial’s only athletic coordinator.

“If we don’t get the campus coordinator/head football coach spot right, it’s difficult to get all the other positions right,” Kite said. “… Kenny will be my contact for Summer Creek.

“When you interview a head coach, you’re interviewing three people [the head coach and two coordinators]. I think he’s a great fit for us. I’d like to think we’re a great fit for him.”

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Page B1: Harrison talks more about his decision to leave Memorial for Summer Creek; reaction from neighboring coach

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

 

**CORRECTS day of Humble ISD board meeting**