The central Arizona city of Maricopa has always had talented football players. The problem was they didn’t always stay local once they reached high school and frequently attended schools in the southern part of the Valley. First-year head coach Brandon Harris is looking to buck the trend after taking over for Chris McDonald who left for the same position at Basha High across the I-10 in Chandler.
“It’s right for a great opportunity, it’s right to really explode,” Harris said to Sports360AZ.com about his Maricopa program. “You’ve got great athletes that have bussed out of there…but we wanted to get them back and I think we’ve gotten them back.”
Harris is no stranger to coaching talented players, with previous stints at Brophy, Desert Vista and Seton Catholic.
“The biggest thing for us is to buy into what we’re trying to do,” he explained. “The biggest thing I’m trying to impart to them is to be winners, not only on the field but in life. Be winners in the classroom.”
His ties to Maricopa run deep. Harris bought a house in the area several years ago and envisioned the Rams’ overall athletic success, paired with a tight-knit community who he believed would likely pledge full support to the only show in town.
Rams looking good today. Coach Harris was pleased with the Dedication and Commitment from the boys in triple digit heat! AZ Summer Football, 104 degrees 2day! ☀☀? pic.twitter.com/wIIoXjqt5x
— MHS Rams Football (@MHSRamsFootball) May 8, 2018
The no non-sense leader has garnered respect from his team, who went 6-4 in 2017, but opens this season with three of their first four games on the road.
The backs of the Rams’ 7-on-7 uniforms read, “ABR…No Excuses.” The “ABR” stands for “Always Be Right.”
“The message is truly loving each other and loving the school,” Harris said. “Try to do things right that ensure that we don’t do anything to damage ourselves, our community or our school, as well.”
In short, staying Ram Tough.
It’s the only way head coach Brandon Harris knows.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.