Mike Harris, a veteran coach who has helmed the Claysburg‑Kimmel basketball team and the Hollidaysburg softball program for more than three decades, announced that he will step down from those roles after the upcoming season.
A Legacy of Leadership
His tenure in basketball, spanning eleven years, transformed a program that had never before reached the state playoffs into a contender that captured a historic victory in 2024, a 63‑62 thriller over Muncy that remains the only state playoff win in school history. Under his guidance, senior Brayden Haney became the boys’ all‑time scoring leader with 1,843 points, and the team earned back‑to‑back appearances in the ICC championship.
In softball, Harris’s impact was equally profound; he doubled the program’s win total this season, a turnaround that prompted Hollidaysburg athletic director Homer DeLattre to hail his contributions as ‘instrumental’ to the program’s resurgence.
Corey Reffner, the Claysburg‑Kimmel athletic director, expressed surprise at Harris’s decision, noting that the coach’s willingness to remain involved with the golf team reflects a deep‑rooted commitment to the school’s athletic community.
While Harris plans to take a step back, he has indicated he may assist other coaches in the future, a promise that has been welcomed by peers and players alike.