Blount legend Ben Harris is heading to Canton.
The former Leopards head coach has been selected for induction into the National High School Football Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the sport’s greatest leaders.
The ceremony will take place on June 14 in Ohio, where Harris will be recognized for a career that reshaped high school football in Alabama.
A Dynasty Built from the Ground Up
Harris didn’t just win a lot—he transformed a program.
Before he arrived at Blount, the team had struggled, winning just 22 games over seven years.
That changed fast.
From 1990 to 1997, Harris led the Leopards to four Class 5A state championships, with two more runner-up finishes.
He built a powerhouse that became a statewide force, racking up an incredible 90-18 record over eight seasons.
Dameyune Craig, former Blount and Auburn quarterback, summed it up best: “Coach Harris did more with less, and it was done coaching with love.”
A Legacy That Stretches Beyond the Field
Harris also shaped players into leaders.
DeMarco McNeil, a former defensive lineman and the state’s Mr. Football in 1998, credits Harris for much more than his on-field success.
“He made me a better football player, a better football coach, and most importantly, a better man,” McNeil said.
Many of Harris’ players went on to make an impact far beyond high school football, and that’s the real legacy.
The lessons in discipline, teamwork, and perseverance carried over into every aspect of their lives.
From Mobile to the Hall of Fame
A Mobile native, Harris played quarterback at Alabama State before stepping into coaching.
His influence extended well beyond Blount.
After his first run with the Leopards, he took an assistant coaching job at Alabama State, later serving as interim head coach.
He returned to high school coaching at Daleville, where he took the team to the playoffs in both seasons before heading back to Blount for a second stint.
Over 19 years as a head coach, he racked up 135 wins and left a lasting mark on the game.
His list of Hall of Fame inductions is growing.
He’s already been honored by Alabama State, the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, the Baldwin County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Now, he’s getting national recognition.
A Coach Who Changed the Game
Harris turned Blount into a football powerhouse, but his biggest accomplishment was shaping lives.
The impact of his coaching is still felt across Alabama, and now the entire country will know his name.
Canton will add another great to its Hall of Fame this summer, but in Mobile, his legacy has been set in stone for years.
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