Charlie Harbison
5/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Charlie Harbison
Wide Receivers
* Fourth Year at Alabama (May 27, 2003)
(Seventh Year Overall)
Charlie Harbison, who guided the Tide’s defensive backs from 1998-2000, is in the fourth season of his current stint at Alabama as receivers coach. Harbison’s return followed two seasons as the defensive backs coach at LSU.
He was honored as one of the nation's top 25 college football recruiters by Rivals.com. following the 2005 season. The Crimson Tide receiving unit last year was led by sophomore DJ Hall, who finished the season ranked fifth in the SEC with 61.5 receiving yards per game. Team mate Keith Brown ranked seventh in the conference at 58.4 yards per game. Tyrone Prothro ranked fourth in the SEC and 66th in the country in receiving yards per game when he suffered a season-ending broken leg five games into the season. Prothro also ranked third in the league and 33rd nationally in all-purpose yards.
While at LSU, Harbison helped mold the Tigers’ defensive backfield into one of the national and SEC leaders in pass defense and was a member of the 2001 SEC Championship coaching staff. During his first stint with the Crimson Tide, Harbison’s charges were consistently near the top of the SEC in pass defense and played a key part in Alabama’s 1999 SEC Championship run. Former Tide defensive back and first-round NFL selection Fernando Bryant was one of Harbison’s pupils in the secondary.
Prior to his first stop at Alabama, Harbison served as the defensive backs coach for Clemson for three seasons (1995-97). He also coached defensive backs at UTEP in 1994 and served twice with his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, coaching wide receivers (1992-93) and defensive backs (1984-85). In addition to his collegiate coaching experiences, Harbison spent time coaching in both the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football. His professional football coaching stays included serving as the defensive coordinator for the Charlotte Rage in 1993-94. Harbison’s coaching career began as a student-assistant at Gardner- Webb.
A native of Shelby, N.C., Harbison graduated from Gardner-Webb College with a business administration degree. A two-sport star in football and track at Gardner -Webb, he was a free agent signee for the Buffalo Bills following his senior season. His professional playing career included stops with the USFL’s Boston Breakers (1983) and New Orleans Breakers (1984).
Harbison was born on October 27, 1959. He and his late wife Gloria, who passed away in early 2003 after battling cancer, have four children ?? Charlie, Stedman, Masai and Msiba; daughter-in-law Caroline and grandsons, Masai II and Amari.
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THE HARBISON LEDGER | |
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Born: |
October 27, 1959 |
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Education: | |
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1995 |
Gardner Webb |
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Playing Experience: | |
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1978-81 |
Gardner Webb |
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1983-84 |
Boston-New Orleans Breakers |
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Coaching Experience: | |
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2003-Present |
Alabama, Receivers |
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2001-02 |
LSU, Defensive Backs/Administration |
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1998-2000 |
Alabama, Defensive Backs |
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1995-97 |
Clemson, Defensive Backs |
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1994 |
UTEP, Defensive Backs |
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1993-94 |
Charlotte Rage, Def. Coordinator/DBs |
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1992-93 |
Gardner Webb, Wide Receivers |
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1991 |
Raleigh-Durham, Defensive Backs |
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1990 |
Charlotte Barons, Linebackers |
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1984-85 |
Gardner-Webb, Defensive Backs |
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Bowl Participation | |
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As a coach: 2006 Cotton Bowl, 2004 Music City, 2003 Cotton, 2002 Sugar, 2000 Orange, 1998 Music City, 1996 Peach, 1996 Gator | |
