CLEVELAND — In 1968, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the NCAA founded National Youth Sports Programs across the country with the goal of providing educational and athletic opportunities for young people.

What You Need To Know

  • The National Youth Sports Program at Case Western Reserve University is celebrating its 55th year in 2025 

  • The program is the last of its kind in the country after federal funding was cut in 2006 

  • Coach Dennis Harris is one of the main reasons the program has continued to serve the kids of Greater Cleveland over the years 

Federal funding dried up in 2006, and since then 200 programs have disappeared; all but one. That program survives largely because of the work of just one man, Coach Dennis Harris. 

The five weeks in the summer when Case Western Reserve University’s National Youth Sports Program occurs is Harris’ favorite time of the year. 

“Learn together, love together, live together,” Harris said. “Our program is an oasis of caring, that’s what NYSP is.”

Harris is in his 29th year running the program and said it’s a rewarding experience. 

“You see children come in that are now adults and it changes your life,” said Harris. 

The five-week program teaches over 300 children ages 8-16 skills from ten different sports, provides education classes, and even gives free meals and health screenings.

“Education and sports exposure, that’s what we do,” Harris said. “We try to bring the world together one program at a time.”

Case Western Reserve’s NYSP is the last of its kind in the country. It’s being funded primarily by the university, its fundraising efforts and the city of Cleveland. Coach Harris also helps fund it and uses his connections to bring in money and speakers to share knowledge with the kids.

“We have the only program left,” he said. “We will stay on this campus. We will still keep this program going because here’s the thing, these kids need us now more than ever.” 

Travon Hines first stepped foot in the program as an eight-year-old camper.

“It’s really helped me become who I am,” Hines said. 

Hines is now 18-years-old and in college. He credits the program and Coach Harris with helping him get there.

“Seeing how they were for me and now I can be that voice for them means so much to me,” said Hines. “Helping me meet so many new people and giving me a job, giving me a chance. He’s done so much for me.”

Case Western Reserve student Mashall Qureshi calls working at the program the most rewarding experience of her time on campus.

“I think this is one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in my life,” said Qureshi. 

She said she’s proud CWRU is home to the last NYSP in the nation.

“The entire reason this program is able to stand in Cleveland and CWRU is because of Coach Harris and his determination, his dedication, his commitment,” she said. “I think every other program didn’t have a Coach Harris to help it survive. This is a program that’s going to impact generations upon generations.”

As for Harris, he says he’s just happy to be a resource for children in his hometown and hopes the program has a long future ahead of it.

“My dream is to see this program go another 55 years,” Harris said. “Do your best. Let God do the rest. That’s what I believe in, and I’m trying to do my best to help the kids of Greater Cleveland.”

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of programs that have closed. This has been corrected. (July 2, 2025)