Ray Harper has proven himself as one of the most successful coaches in the country, leading teams to eight national title games. He won the NAIA Division I title last season in his second title game in a row at Oklahoma City University and led Kentucky Wesleyan to six consecutive NCAA Division II championship games, winning titles in 1999 and 2001.
Only John Wooden led his school to more consecutive NCAA championship game appearances (seven). Harper set an NCAA record with five consecutive 30-win seasons from 1998-2002. He had more wins through seven seasons than any coach at the Division I and II levels. He reached 200 wins in 224 games, faster than Division I record holder and Hall of Famer Clair Bee, who won 200 in 231 games.
Last season with the Stars, Harper guided OCU to the second most wins in the program’s storied history and OCU’s fifth national title. OCU won the regular-season conference title, and Harper was named coach of the year.
At his first season at OCU, Harper led the Stars to the national title game. OCU overcame a 6-5 start to finish 29-8. Along the way, the Stars put together a 14-game winning streak and won the conference regular-season and tournament titles. Harper was named conference co-coach of the year.
Harper has been Division II coach of the year seven times and had his team ranked in the top three for six seasons: No. 3 in 1998; No. 1 in 1999; No. 2 in 2000; No. 2 in 2001; No. 1 in 2002; and No. 3 in 2003. Harper coached two national players of the year and seven all-Americans, including Antonio Garcia, who was named to the 50th anniversary all-Elite Eight team.
Harper guided Kentucky Weselyan to four Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season titles, four conference tournament titles and five regional championships.
In 2003, Harper was assistant coach for the USA Basketball men’s junior world championship team. He helped USA to a fifth-place finish at the FIBA World Championships in Greece.
Harper is a native of Bremen, Ky. He scored 3,000 points during his high-school playing career and was all-state his junior and senior years at Bremen. Harper played collegiately at the University of Texas for Abe Lemons, who once said Harper was “smart, nerveless and an outstanding passer and, when he’s hot, can flat bomb the basket from 30 feet. He plays best under pressure.” Harper graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan in 1985.
Harper is married (Shannon).
