Velaida Harris enters her first season as the associate head coach at Utah State in 2024-25. With a coaching tenure spanning nearly three decades, Harris brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Aggies’ bench.
Previously, Harris served as the associate head coach at Kansas City, where she played a pivotal role in player development, recruitment, scouting and game strategy. Under her guidance, three players garnered Summit League postseason accolades.
From 2018-23, Harris served as the head coach at Weber State. During her tenure, she mentored four all-conference players and 32 academic all-Big Sky honorees, while leading two graduates to professional contracts. Notably, her leadership was recognized nationally in 2020 for the program’s outstanding service and contributions to the state.
Harris made history in Utah as the first black woman to assume a Division I head coaching position in the state. Beyond her coaching duties, Harris is 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 tenure at Weber State, Harris spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Rhode Island. There, she worked primarily with perimeter players while also coordinating 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 postseason four times. She helped guide the Utes to a conference tournament championship and 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.Â
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.
Harris graduated from Portland State University, where she played from 1989-93, with a degree in liberal studies and minors in writing and black studies. 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.