Walt Harris was hired by Pitt in 1996.  Walt Harris is currently in his seventh year of couching for Pitt.  Walt Harris lead Pitt to a 9-4 season last year.  To prove how good of a coach Harris really is, Sports News ranked Pitt number 3 nationally and the best in the Big East.  Some call Harris the big East's best strategist.  Last year, Walt Harris was recognized by his peers the Region 1 Coach of the year.  For these who don't know what Region 1 is made up of the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference.  At first people didn't think Harris couldn't take on a challenge this large.  So far he has proved that he can.  One person who did always have faith in Walt was Bill Walsh who was the formal head coach to the San Francisco 49ers.  Walt Harris came to Pitt after coaching the new York Jets.  Walt Harris received the 2001 City of Champion Achievement Award because Pittsburgh likes him so much.