Arguably the top boys basketball program in Tucson over the last four years will soon be looking for a new coach.
Rob Harrison told the Star on Monday he is leaving Sunnyside High School to take another head coaching job at a high school in the Denver area. The 34-year-old Detroit native, who graduated from Palo Verde Christian, coached the Blue Devils to four straight postseason appearances and an 86-32 record since his arrival in 2012.
“It’s tough to leave but I think it’s exciting, too,” Harrison said. “I get to go rebuild another program, or get a chance to put my stamp on another program and kind of build it the way I want.”
Harrison will take over at Aurora Central (Colorado), a program that has posted five straight winning seasons but graduates its top four scorers from the 2015-16 season.
“There’s a lot of potential at this other high school, not that there’s not potential here,” Harrison said. “We’re really good, I think we would continue to be good here at Sunnyside. But, ultimately long-term, as far as the state of education here in Arizona and just some of the stuff that’s going on at Sunnyside in general, it’s just the right time for us to move.”
Sunnyside is coming off a 23-3 season and a trip to the Division II state quarterfinals. The stage was set for a fifth straight postseason appearance with juniors Mikey Silva and Santino Duarte coming back next year. Both have been on varsity since their freshman season so Harrison spoke with the two of them separately before announcing his move to the rest of the team.
“It’s going to be hard driving off for the last time but they’re prepared for whatever they’ve got in front of them and they’re going to do well,” Harrison said. “We’re leaving the program in really good hands; I think Santino and Mikey are two of the five best players in Southern Arizona.”
Leaving Sunnyside wasn’t even a thought a month ago for Harrison. He received a call about the opening and was then asked to come out for an interview two weeks ago. He was offered the job on the spot but did not accept it until his wife, Kanah, was also able to find a job in the area as well. They have an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son.
“It’s crazy but we’re going to enjoy the adventure and enjoy the ride,” Harrison said.
Harrison doesn’t take full credit for the successful run in his four seasons at Sunnyside. His assistant coaches also deserve plenty of recognition, Harrison said, as do athletic director Dan Bartley and freshman academy principal Alissa Welch, who oversees the school’s athletic department.
“Both of them have gone above and beyond for us to be successful,” Harrison said. “It was a complete team effort and they did awesome.”
Whoever ends up as Sunnyside’s next coach, “is walking into a good situation,” Harrison said, because finances are in order and the offseason plans are already arranged.
The circumstances are similar two when Harrison stepped down as Cienega’s girls coach in 2012, to take over at Sunnyside. The Bobcats were coming off a 20-8 season and an appearance in the Division I state tournament. Two years later, Cienega finished as the Division II runner-up under coach Paul Reed.
“They kind of built off the success we started there,” said Harrison, who went 83-27 in four seasons with the Bobcats. “I think the same can be for Sunnyside; we’ve had a really good run for four years.
“I think Sunnyside will continue to be one of the best programs in Tucson, year in and year out. We’ve got kids here that are awesome, who will work their tails off for you.”
