Women's Basketball
Harris, Velaida
Velaida Harris
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- vharris@umkc.edu
On July 5, 2023, Velaida Harris was officially announced as an Associate Head Coach for Kansas City Women's Basketball. She enters her first season with the Roos in 2023-24. Harris brings nearly three decades of coaching experience to the Roos' bench, including her most recent stop as the head coach at Weber State.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to support Coach Jackson and her vision for Kansas City," Harris said. "She's had an incredible amount of success at her previous stops, and she will do the same as the head coach here. It's always a blessing to be able to coach, teach, encourage and inspire young women."
In the associate head coaching role, Harris will be tasked with perimeter skill development, recruiting, scouting of opponents, game preparation and other duties.
"Adding Velaida to our staff is a true blessing, as she brings experience, a wealth of knowledge and professionalism," Jackson-Durrett said. "I think more than anything, the person she is made this connection the ultimate fit. Having her around our program and around our players will elevate us in the right direction. I'm a firm believer that things happen when they're supposed to, and connecting with Velaida rings true to that."
From 2018-23, Harris was the head coach at Weber State, coaching four All-Conference players, 32 Academic All-Big Sky honorees and leading two graduates to professional contracts. In addition, the program was honored nationally during the 2020 season for its service and state contributions. The hiring of Harris made history in the state of Utah, as she was the first Black woman to earn a Division One head coaching role in the state.
Harris is also heavily involved with the NCAA and various professional coaching organizations. She was the chair of the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee for the 2022-23 academic year and has been a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee since 2021. In addition, she is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association.
Prior to her time at Weber State, she spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Rhode Island, where she worked primarily with perimeter players, but also coordinated the program's skill development program. She was also heavily involved with recruiting, opponent scouting and defense.
Prior to Rhode Island, she spent six years at the University of Utah from 2009-15. She began her career with the Utes under head coach Elaine Elliott. She then became recruiting coordinator under Head Coach Anthony Levrets.
During her stint at Utah, the program reached the post-season four times. She helped guide the Utes to a conference tourney championship & the NCAA Tournament in 2011 as well as the finals of the WNIT in 2013. She coached 11 all-conference selections and 26 academic all-conference performers during her stint at Utah.
Prior to coaching at Utah, Harris spent two seasons at the University of Oregon. She was the director of operations for the Ducks in 2007-08 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. During her time at Utah and Oregon, Harris recruited several regions of the country. At Utah, she was responsible for the Midwest, South and Southeast. With Oregon, she recruited the West Coast, Midwest and Canada. She also handled recruiting the junior college ranks.
At both schools, she served as the academic liaison for the staff. Utah and Oregon both had a 100 percent graduation rate. Harris has also coached 3 WNBA players, two Olympians and 20 players who went on to professional careers overseas.
Before joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Harris spent one season as the associate head coach of the Portland Chinooks of the Men's International Basketball League. Harris spent 13 seasons coaching high school and AAU hoops. She spent two seasons (2004-06) as the girl's basketball head coach at Lake Oswego High School, where she led the team to a 40-15 overall record two state playoff berths. Harris was also the head coach at Lincoln Senior High School from 1997-2004, leading the program to six state playoff berths, three trips to the state championship tournament and three league titles, while compiling a record of 123-52. On the AAU circuit, she was the Program Director and coach of the Nike sponsored Portland Elite Basketball Organization (PEBO) for eight years, heading the selection and evaluation of players throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho. More than 80% of the seniors in her program went on to play college basketball. Harris served as a coach at the prestigious Nike All-America Camp three times (2000, 2002 and 2004).
Harris graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Liberal Studies, minors in Writing and Black Studies, where she played from 1989 - 93. She also participated in track at Portland State, jumping for a year.
Harris is married to husband Jerry Harris Jr., and the couple has three children - Christaen, Gabrielle and Sierra.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to support Coach Jackson and her vision for Kansas City," Harris said. "She's had an incredible amount of success at her previous stops, and she will do the same as the head coach here. It's always a blessing to be able to coach, teach, encourage and inspire young women."
In the associate head coaching role, Harris will be tasked with perimeter skill development, recruiting, scouting of opponents, game preparation and other duties.
"Adding Velaida to our staff is a true blessing, as she brings experience, a wealth of knowledge and professionalism," Jackson-Durrett said. "I think more than anything, the person she is made this connection the ultimate fit. Having her around our program and around our players will elevate us in the right direction. I'm a firm believer that things happen when they're supposed to, and connecting with Velaida rings true to that."
From 2018-23, Harris was the head coach at Weber State, coaching four All-Conference players, 32 Academic All-Big Sky honorees and leading two graduates to professional contracts. In addition, the program was honored nationally during the 2020 season for its service and state contributions. The hiring of Harris made history in the state of Utah, as she was the first Black woman to earn a Division One head coaching role in the state.
Harris is also heavily involved with the NCAA and various professional coaching organizations. She was the chair of the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee for the 2022-23 academic year and has been a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee since 2021. In addition, she is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association.
Prior to her time at Weber State, she spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Rhode Island, where she worked primarily with perimeter players, but also coordinated the program's skill development program. She was also heavily involved with recruiting, opponent scouting and defense.
Prior to Rhode Island, she spent six years at the University of Utah from 2009-15. She began her career with the Utes under head coach Elaine Elliott. She then became recruiting coordinator under Head Coach Anthony Levrets.
During her stint at Utah, the program reached the post-season four times. She helped guide the Utes to a conference tourney championship & the NCAA Tournament in 2011 as well as the finals of the WNIT in 2013. She coached 11 all-conference selections and 26 academic all-conference performers during her stint at Utah.
Prior to coaching at Utah, Harris spent two seasons at the University of Oregon. She was the director of operations for the Ducks in 2007-08 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. During her time at Utah and Oregon, Harris recruited several regions of the country. At Utah, she was responsible for the Midwest, South and Southeast. With Oregon, she recruited the West Coast, Midwest and Canada. She also handled recruiting the junior college ranks.
At both schools, she served as the academic liaison for the staff. Utah and Oregon both had a 100 percent graduation rate. Harris has also coached 3 WNBA players, two Olympians and 20 players who went on to professional careers overseas.
Before joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Harris spent one season as the associate head coach of the Portland Chinooks of the Men's International Basketball League. Harris spent 13 seasons coaching high school and AAU hoops. She spent two seasons (2004-06) as the girl's basketball head coach at Lake Oswego High School, where she led the team to a 40-15 overall record two state playoff berths. Harris was also the head coach at Lincoln Senior High School from 1997-2004, leading the program to six state playoff berths, three trips to the state championship tournament and three league titles, while compiling a record of 123-52. On the AAU circuit, she was the Program Director and coach of the Nike sponsored Portland Elite Basketball Organization (PEBO) for eight years, heading the selection and evaluation of players throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho. More than 80% of the seniors in her program went on to play college basketball. Harris served as a coach at the prestigious Nike All-America Camp three times (2000, 2002 and 2004).
Harris graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Liberal Studies, minors in Writing and Black Studies, where she played from 1989 - 93. She also participated in track at Portland State, jumping for a year.
Harris is married to husband Jerry Harris Jr., and the couple has three children - Christaen, Gabrielle and Sierra.
WBB Highlights: Summit League Semifinals
Saturday, March 08
WBB Highlights: Summit League Quarterfinals
Friday, March 07
WBB Highlights at UND
Saturday, March 01
WBB Highlights at NDSU
Thursday, February 27
