Player/Coach Spotlight: Harris

My name is Nickolas Harris, and I’ve been playing soccer for over 35 years and coaching for more than 15. As both a player and a coach, I’ve come to believe that sports are one of the most powerful ways we connect with others. What fascinates me most is how, in a world divided by politics or income, the field levels everything. The ball doesn’t care who you are. For example, every time I join my high school alumni game, I’m reminded of that. Some guys are CEOs. Some are broke college students. But on the pitch, it’s 11 versus 11. No one is above anyone else. And for those 90 minutes, we’re equals.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced was tearing my ACL and MCL at the end of my sophomore year in college. I was out for 13 months, it also was the end of my playing career at a competitive level. But that time off also led me to coaching. As a college student still hungry for the game, I started a team called Japonica FC. I called up former teammates and rivals from international school days, and we made something out of nothing. We played summer and winter matches, and I coached.

That experience changed everything. I started to see the game differently. From the sidelines, you’re not just playing,  you’re planning, managing personalities, reading space, teaching. That early start helped shape the coach I would become, and made me a better player too.

Since then, I’ve coached in Bahrain, Honduras, South Korea, and now Saudi Arabia. 

I think about a quote from Ted Lasso a lot when coaching, "For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field." One day the players will no longer be players, but their character will be tested off the pitch. I want to make sure that through the game of soccer, they are prepared not only for soccer, but for the world outside of the 90-minutes too. The real victory is who they become long after the final whistle.

I don't know if you need a title, but when I asked ChatGPT what would be good titles, this one really stuck out for me.

"More Than 90 Minutes"