The FGCU women’s basketball program named Iowa assistant coach Raina Harmon as its new women’s basketball coach Friday.
Harmon replaces Chelsea Lyles, who led the Eagles to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship in her first and only season as head coach.
During her eight years as an assistant with the Hawkeyes, Harmon helped Iowa to a 208-63 record, eight NCAA Tournament berths, five Big Ten Conference championships and back-to-back NCAA Championship Games appearances in 2023 and 2024.
Welcome to the Nest, Raina Harmon – FGCU’s new head coach! https://t.co/e5FnmzRtSP #Raining3s pic.twitter.com/dvQE1mgt0f
Here are five things to know about Raina Harmon:
Raina Harmon began her coaching career at a Detroit middle school
A native of the Motor City, Harmon worked as a health and physical education teacher at a middle school in her hometown. She was an assistant coach for the boys basketball team but took over the team midseason when the head coach abruptly departed. Harmon would lead the team to a local championship.
More: Florida Gulf Coast women’s basketball hires Iowa assistant Raina Harmon as head coach
Raina Harmon’s first college job was at the University of Michigan
Bit by the coaching bug, Harmon took on a role with a Detroit AAU girls team. She also returned to school, earning a master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in Detroit.
In 2010, Harmon became the director of operations for Michigan women’s basketball and spent two seasons with the Wolverines.
Raina Harmon both played and coached at Central Michigan
Harmon, who played at Central Michigan from 2001-04, returned to the Chippewas as an assistant coach in 2012. In five seasons at CMU, the program went 99-61 with one NCAA Tournament berth (2013) and three WNIT appearances.
Raina Harmon developed a special relationship with Iowa’s Kate Martin
Harmon primarily worked with the Hawkeyes’ forwards during her time in Iowa City. Early in Martin’s career she told the then-reserve she could one day play in the WNBA.
“The fact that she believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself is a credit to who she is,” Martin told the Des Moines Register in an interview last year. “… Pretty cool she thought that, back when I felt like I was doing nothing for the team. Now, here I am.”
A second-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Aces in 2024, Martin quickly became a fan favorite in her debut season with the club. In December, she was selected by Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA expansion draft.
Raina Harmon met her wife through sports
In 2008, Harmon was overseeing youth sports at Detroit’s Police Athletic League when she met Charita Martin, a PAL cheerleading coach. The pair began dating and married in Florida in the summer of 2020.
While it’s hard to see @Raina15 leave, I couldn’t be happier for her! She’s worked hard for her opportunity & she’s going to be a great Head Coach at Florida Gulf Coast! Weyou,Raina & we’re so proud of you! Keep being you & always remember…Once a Hawk,Always a Hawk!#Family https://t.co/kTvz31cI4L
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Who is Raina Harmon? Meet the Iowa assistant who is the new FGCU women’s basketball coach
Reporting by Dan DeLuca, Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
