On Jan. 2, the first round of pregame shoot around started just like any other for Central Washington University’s men’s basketball team, but then some shocking news would make the first game of the new year anything but normal for the Wildcats.

Greg Sparling slipped and fell on ice out of his house, which resulted in the long-time head coach needing ankle surgery. That effectively sidelined Sparling, leaving assistant head coach Drew Harris with the head coaching duties.

“I was confident [in him],” Sparling said. “I mean he was pretty nervous. I talked to him multiple times when I was in the hospital and when I finally got home, but he was nervous.”

The Wildcats were coming off their biggest win of the season so far, an 81-77 home-victory over No. 3 Western Oregon, and the team didn’t miss a beat under Harris, coming away with an 85-80 victory in his first game as a head coach.

“I feel like Coach Spar has prepped me and gave me a lot of flexibility to prepare for something like that,” Harris said. “But obviously it’s the real thing when you get thrown out in the fire, so no matter how much you prep for it… It’s gonna be something new as far as being in that head coaching position.”

The coaching styles of Harris and Sparling differ a bit—anyone who’s been to a Wildcat basketball game has heard Sparling’s booming voice echo throughout the gym—but the players adjusted with ease.

“The only change was not having Spar yelling on the bench,” said senior forward Joseph Stroud with a chuckle.

CWU continued to play well under Harris, winning five of six games and averaging 81.5 points per game in Sparling’s absence.

“I think that speaks to the maturity that Drew has as a young coach and the potential he has,” said athletics director Dennis Francois.

Members of the team rallied around Harris and also played for their head coach who was forced to watch from home.

“It was real cool. We joked around a bit and called [Harris] Luke Walton,” said senior guard Devin Matthews. “It was kind of like that situation when Steve Kerr was out, and Luke took over and you didn’t even notice it with the Warriors. You definitely don’t take anything away from Kerr or Spar, but it was nice to have somebody to be able to fill his shoes like that.”

Harris’ success wasn’t too much of a surprise to Sparling, who coached Harris when he spent his senior year in a Wildcat uniform.

“He was a leader on the floor. … He ran the club on that team where there were a lot of different guys from different areas and different egos and all that,” Sparling said. “You could tell when he played for me he was a coach on the floor, and I think that carried over when he decided to become a coach.”

After playing three years at Division I Seattle University, Harris transferred to CWU after Joe Callero, the coach who had recruited Harris, left to coach at California Polytechnic State University.

Former University of Washington assistant Cameron Dollar took over for Seattle U.

“A whole new system and coaching staff,” Harris said. “It was just a different system than I’m used to. I left on good terms, and me and Cameron Dollar still speak to this day.”

Harris, native of Yakima, came to CWU partially because of its proximity to home and also to play with his friend, Humberto Perez, who was about to start his senior year as a Wildcat.

“Transferring as a senior is always tough,” Harris said. “You’ve got to assimilate quickly, and I thought it’d be a lot easier going somewhere closer to home.”

Meshing with his teammates was no problem for Harris. In his only season with the team, Harris led the Wildcats in minutes, steal and assists.

“The whole staff did a great job of helping me adjust quickly and putting me in positions to be successful,” Harris said. “The players welcomed me right away and put a lot of trust in me.”

The Wildcats came away with a GNAC regular season and conference tournament championship that season, spending part of the season as a top-five team in the country.

“He was at a division I program and he came down to division II, and the worst thing you can worry about is guys that come down and think they’re bigger than the program—and he wasn’t,” Sparling said. “He came in, and all he wanted to do was win.”

After finishing his playing career at CWU, Harris signed an agent to pursue basketball overseas, but nagging injuries kept Harris from following that dream.

Harris would go on to coach basketball at Eisenhower High School, where he played before going to college and holds career records in assists and steals, for one season alongside Perez.

After that season, Harris came back to CWU and joined the staff as a volunteer. Harris then finished up his degree in sociology, which gave him the opportunity to take a graduate-assistant role with the team.

“He’s a local kid, he was apart of our program,” Sparling said. “We like to try to give former players an opportunity that want to get into coaching. … It was a great fit for him and the program.”

Since coming back to CWU to coach, Harris has quickly carved out a big role on the team. He spends a lot of time on the recruiting trail, installing offenses and working on guard development.

“Drew does an excellent job of teaching fundamentals, and I think our guys really buy into all the drills he puts in and all the individual workouts,” Sparling said.

Harris has also decided to continue his schooling since his return to the Wildcats. He will receive his masters in athletic administration at the end of this quarter.

Off the court, Harris considers himself to be a family man.

“I go back home a lot to try and spend some time with my niece,” Harris said. “I’m really close with her.”

His family is also what helped introduce him to the game. Harris is one of the youngest boys in his family and spent many hours competing against his older brother and cousins as a kid.

“It’s always big to have those guys that are a couple years older than you,” Harris said. “Because then you’re playing with an older group that’s a little more physical and have a little better IQ.”

Basketball is a part of Harris’ bloodline as well. His father, Fred Harris, played collegiate basketball, and his uncle, Joe Harris, holds the CWU record for most assists in a season and a career.

Harris said he also had positive coaching role models throughout his playing career, including when he played under legendary coach Pat Fitterer at Eisenhower, who won over 700 games as a high school coach.

After his performance this season, Harris was promoted to associate head coach of the Wildcat men’s basketball team.

“Drew is building his resume,” Sparling said. “He’s young in this business, and if he keeps building it the way he potentially could, he could move up in this business real quick.”