‘Dolo’ is a coach and ‘father figure’ to his football players
During conditioning, Coach Mark ‘Dolo’ Harris helped a Camden Park football player with a heavy weight. Several older students say he does this in the gym and with their heavy burdens. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
By Ayanna Melander, North News intern
It is nearly impossible to get his full attention. Kids pull at him left and right with their wants and needs, and Coach Mark “Dolo” Harris has no qualms about it. His first priority has always been the youth.
When Harris, an assistant coach at Camden High, volunteered time with a local youth football team in July, the boys' faces beamed at his presence. They stood up straighter when he redirected them on a drill. Some kids might cut corners when the coach isn't looking, but not with “Dolo.” The young athletes stayed on task even when his back was turned.
Harris, mostly known by his nickname, was recently named the All-Metro Sports Award Difference Maker for 2024 by the Star Tribune.
Jordan Dornbush, Camden High School football coach, said “Dolo” is the most energetic person in the room.
Leading by example, Harris demonstrated how to squat with a weight. He jokingly told youth that if he can do it at his age, they have no excuse not to. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
“Coach Dolo really has a heart for the kids,” Dornbush said. “He comes out with a desire, he wants to be here to help these kids be great. For him, it's not about a paycheck; it's about the livelihood of the students we come across on a daily basis.
“When he talks about changing the narrative, he's challenging our students to say there's an idea out there of who you are, and I want you to challenge how people think of you and by the way you live your life.”
Sterling Walker first met Harris when he was recruited to play football for Camden High four months ago.
It didn’t take long for Walker to feel a shift in thinking in the presence of Harris.
“He has impacted me a lot because I've been going through a lot,” Walker said. “My brother died recently, and Dolo really helped me find ways to cope with that and working out has really helped with that. He tells me he wants me to focus on the things that will help me succeed, and his presence really drives me to be a better person.”
Tenth grader Dj Warren said there is more to Harris’ coaching than football. He said Harris talks about the importance of hard work in every undertaking.
“He's like another father figure to me,” he said. “There was a time when I got hit in a game and injured my arm, and I was about to go and fight the guys who injured my arm, but Dolo grabbed me and told me to keep calm and take a break because fighting isn't worth getting kicked off the team.”
Harris reinforces the perspective of the bigger picture. It is something he had to learn growing up.
Harris lived through gun violence and community strife on the Northside. But that struggle, he said, turned him into the person he is today—a father, a coach, a club promoter, and the founder of Change the Narrative, a nonprofit he started to give young men opportunities to fellowship with one another and travel to different places for football.
At the end of a long practice, dolo called a huddle to thank the players for their hard work. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
“I'm trying to change the bad narrative of how people perceive North Minneapolis,” Harris said. “I do that by sending out good athletes to Division 1 schools, helping my kids get into trade schools, and helping them create businesses. That's what changes the narrative.”
Harris hopes to save money for a 15-passenger van to transport more boys to workouts, camps, and games. For now, he’ll pack as many kids as he safely can into his gray sedan.