Oklahoma City University Athletics

One of the most successful coaches in the country has made his home at Oklahoma City University. Ray Harper joins OCU having led Kentucky Wesleyan to six consecutive NCAA Division II championship games, winning titles in 1999 and 2001.
In 10 seasons coaching, Harper has left his mark on college basketball. At his first season at OCU, Harper led the Stars to the NAIA Division I championship game, the program’s fifth and his seventh 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 Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season and conference tournament titles. Harper was named conference co-coach of the year.
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.
Harper has been Division II coach of the year seven times and had his team ranked in the top three the last 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.
In tournaments, Harper’s teams won 14 of 18 tournament titles and 18 of 25 total championships. Kentucky Wesleyan won four Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season titles, four conference tournaments and five regional championships.
In 2003, Harper was assistant coach for the USA Basketball men’s junior world championship team. He helped the USA team to a 7-1 record and 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).