Bethune-Cookman Women’s Basketball Head Coach Janell Crayton has announced the hiring of Erika Harris as a new assistant coach to the Wildcats staff. Harris arrives to BCU as she takes over in wake of the departure of Stephan Walton, who left last month for a similar position at Canisius.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Harris into our family as part of my coaching staff,” commented Crayton. “Coach Harris brings a wealth of knowledge from different levels and different positions. Her passion for this game is unmistakable, and her work ethic is something that will help our program continue to climb.”
Before arriving to Daytona Beach, Harris spent the 2023-24 campaign as head coach for women’s basketball at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri.
Prior to Moberly, she was Women’s Basketball Head Coach for five seasons at Danville Area Community College in Danville, Illinois. While at Danville Area CC, Harris led the Lady Jaguars to their first Region 24 Championship in program history with a record of 22-11 across the 2022-23 season. That same season, Danville Area CC posted an eighth-place finish in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, en route to being named District Coach of the Year. In 2015, Dy’Jhanik Armfield was ranked 15th nationally for NJCAA Division II. Additionally, she coached a number of players to achieve all-conference and all-region recognition each year from 2019-2022, respectfully.
“I would like to thank Coach [Janell] Crayton for this amazing opportunity to be at a special place like Bethune-Cookman University,” said Harris. “I could not be more excited to work with an excelling team and continue this journey towards a championship.”
In total at DACC, Harris coached 28 all-academic team selections, six All-MAAC selections, and one MAAC Player of the Year.
Before becoming the head coach at DACC, Harris was an assistant coach at her alma mater Niagara University from 2015-18.
A 2009 graduate of Niagara, Harris earned her bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management with a concentration in Sport Management. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Purple Eagles.
A native of Gahanna, Ohio, Harris began her coaching career as an assistant women’s basketball coach with DACC from 2012-14, while serving as the school’s softball head coach from 2013-14.
“Coach Harris is a great basketball mind, who is clearly in love with this game as well as coaching,” continued Crayton. “She is going to be a great resource and teacher for the young female student-athletes on our team and her energy will only add to our culture. I am truly blessed to be able to add her as part of our program, and I can’t wait for her to get started.”
At BCU, Harris expected to work primarily with guards, in addition to assisting with recruiting, scout preparations and the other day-to-day duties of the women’s basketball program.
