Palo Alto, CA (My Sportsbook) - Stanford University officially announced the appointment of Pittsburgh's Walt Harris as its new head coach during a Monday press conference.

Harris agreed to a five-year contract and will take over the Cardinal program following Pittsburgh's Fiesta Bowl game against No. 5 Utah on New Year's Day.

"Throughout his career, Walt has proven to be an innovator of offensive football and a great teacher," said Stanford athletic director Ted Leland. "He has done a fantastic job at the University of Pittsburgh for the past eight years, turning their program into one of the nation's perennial bowl contenders. He is a man of high integrity and character, and we welcome him into the Stanford community."

A Bay Area native, Harris has compiled a 52-43 record in eight seasons with the Panthers and has posted a winning record in each of the last five campaigns, including an 8-3 mark in 2004. Pittsburgh co-shared this year's Big East title with Boston College, Syracuse and West Virginia and earned the conference's coveted BCS berth in a tiebreaker.

Harris was named the 2004 Big East Coach of the Year, an award he also garnered in 1997 after guiding Pittsburgh to a Liberty Bowl berth for its first postseason experience since 1989. The Panthers went to six bowl games under Harris, including a string of five straight.

"The Stanford family is extremely fortunate to have Walt Harris join us," said former Cardinal and San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, who currently serves as a special assistant to Leland. "I consider Walt to have one of the brightest minds in football. He brings experience, expertise and a level of success that demonstrate his executive skills. He has great energy, intensity and a history of winning."

Despite the Panthers' success, Harris was not assured of being with the program in 2005. Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long chose not to extend his contract prior to the season, and Harris job was rumored to be in jeopardy all throughout the year, especially after a 2-2 start in September.

Stanford athletic director Ted Leland knows Harris well, having given him his first head coaching position at Pacific in 1989.

Harris spent three years at his alma mater, compiling a record of 11-24, then went to the pro ranks as the quarterbacks coach for three years with the New York Jets. After a two-year stint as quarterbacks coach at Ohio State, he became the Pittsburgh head coach in 1997.

The 58-year-old Harris has a career head coaching record of 63-67 and is known as an offensive-minded coach.

Stanford struggled offensively under Buddy Teevens, who was let go at the conclusion of the Cardinal's 4-7 2004 campaign. Stanford averaged just 22 points this past year and lost its final five games.

Teevens was just 10-23 in three seasons after stepping in when Tyrone Willingham took over at Notre Dame.