Each time a basketball coaching position opened around Vicksburg, one of the first phone calls I would make was to Fred Harris.

Each time he would graciously say he was happy at Jim Hill, thanks for thinking of him and see you at the next game in Vicksburg. Each time, I hung up the phone a bit disappointed because Harris is a sportswriter’s dream.

Harris, a member of Vicksburg High’s 1980 state championship team, coached the Jim Hill High Tigers of Jackson and succeeded the right way. His teams were disciplined, respectful and played with the same tenacity as he did as a defensive whiz on those great Vicksburg teams of the late 1970s into the ’80s.

He coached at Jim Hill High School in Jackson for 12 years and was an assistant principal for the past five years. He also was a 12-year reserve police officer.

After games, he spoke candidly, no matter how crushing the loss or exciting the victory. He usually smiled and talked glowingly about his team. There was no clowning around when his team entered the gym. His players answered with “yes sirs” and “no sirs,” a direct reflection of their coach.

Harris, 47, died of a heart attack a week ago today. His funeral was Saturday in Jackson.

He led his teams to the state tournament on several occasions and his team played for one state championship, but the wins and losses weren’t what everyone respected most about Fred Harris, but the impact he had on everyone with whom he came in contact.

Longtime Vicksburg High basketball coach Dellie C. Robinson summed up Harris perfectly: “He was such a classy guy and a great mentor. His kids were always well-disciplined. His teams were always one of the smartest teams we played because he demanded they be successful in the classroom.”

The way Harris did things made everyone respect him more. Likely it was that aspect of Fred Harris that  prompted me to contact him each time a coaching job opened in Vicksburg. I knew him much less than many others, but from what I knew of him, it could only do this community a service to get him here as a coach, mentor and citizen.

He leaves behind a wife and four children.

Fred Harris did things the right way, and that will live on much longer than any gold ball in the schoolhouse trophy case.