Ray Harper

Ray Harper is an established college basketball coach recognized for his success across multiple NCAA divisions, earning numerous coach of the year honors and national championships. After earning NABC Third-team All-American honors in 1985 as a two-year starter at Kentucky Wesleyan, where he finished his playing career with 1,187 points and 605 assists, Ray Harper transitioned into a distinguished coaching career spanning over 30 years with an overall record of 600-252. He then coached Oklahoma City University to back-to-back NAIA Division I National Championships in 2007 and 2008. During his tenure, he achieved three consecutive 20-win seasons, a first for a WKU coach.

In 2016, Harper was appointed head coach at Jacksonville State, where he rapidly revitalized the program. That same year, the program captured its first Division I regular-season conference title in the ASUN Conference, a monumental achievement that earned Harper ASUN Coach of the Year honors. His tenure at Jacksonville State has established him as the program’s winningest Division I coach, with five of its six 20-win seasons occurring under his direction. Most recently, in 2025, Harper was recognized as the Conference USA Coach of the Year, after guiding Jacksonville State to a 23-13 record and the program’s first NIT bid.

He celebrated his 600th career victory in 2025 with an 81-64 win over Georgia Tech in the NIT. Throughout his coaching career, Harper has consistently navigated teams through transitions across major conferences, including the Ohio Valley Conference, ASUN Conference, and Conference USA, demonstrating a proven ability to achieve competitive results and secure postseason berths.