Harris hopes Heat stint will lead to coaching job

Former Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris hopes his coaching stint with the Brisbane Heat during the Big bash League will lead to a more permanent mentoring appointment next year.

Harris retired earlier this year ahead of the Ashes, with injuries taking their toll, and since then he was been building up his coaching credentials with junior sides.

He will continue his education with the Heat, but says he isn't looking for a major job quite yet, rather starting small and working his way up.

Harris told AAP: "I'm keen to push on with the coaching. In a perfect world, I'd love to have an opportunity to go into a state system. 

"That's something I feel personally ready for but the flip side of that is someone's got to offer me a job. We'll see. 

"I haven't really sat down with Darren Lehmann, who is a mentor of mine, and Pat Howard and any of the states.

"If it was anything I wasn't ready for, I definitely wouldn't do it – because it can turn badly pretty quickly as a coach

"I don't want to get a bad reputation when it's the first (full-time) job I get."

Harris will join New Zealand coaching pair Dan Vettori and Shane Bond at the Heat, and is looking forward to learning from his more experienced colleagues.

He added: "I'm lucky to have such a great opportunity. They'll be great to learn off. 

"Dan I know reasonably well, Shane I don't know at all, so it will be interesting to get another opinion on how he coaches and what he does."

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