Sam Harris is a 1978 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, where he starred alongside his brother Steve Harris, while playing for former Trevecca coach Frank Wilson. After graduation Harris was an assistant coach at Judson College in Elgin, IL, 1978-80. When he took over the program in 1980, it had a combined record of 15-110 over a six-year period. After two seasons of recruiting and implementing his system he led the program to a combined 42-17 record over his final two seasons there. In his fourth and final season at Judson the team had a 24-7 record and won the NCCAA District Championship and earned a berth into the NCCAA National Tournament. In 1984 Harris moved to NCAA Division 1 Central Florida as an assistant coach and then moved to Valparaiso University as an assistant. In 1988 he became head coach at Messiah College in Grantham, PA, his biggest challenge yet. He took a team that was 6-82 and won the conference championship in his third season with a 15-10 record. For his efforts he was named the MAC Conference Coach of the Year.

Harris begins his ninth season at the helm of the Trevecca program coming off the team's first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament since 1987. The team finished the year with a 21-12 record, the best under Harris, and led the NAIA in free throw percentage. Michael Blivens became the second player under Harris to be named to a NAIA All-American team.

Coach Harris has made great strides in rebuilding the "purple pride" in Trevecca basketball. As the team works to improve on last season's national tournament run, Harris is quick to remind his players that the keys to success are "playing together as a team, being committed to excellence and holding each other accountable for our efforts and actions."

Harris is the dean of TranSouth coaches and serves as the chairman of the TranSouth coaches' association.

Sam and his wife, Donna, have two sons, Tyson and Christopher.