Mariska Harris

Mariska Harris, who served as Middle Tennessee women’s basketball’s director of operations the last two seasons, has been promoted to an assistant coach with the Blue Raiders, it was announced in August 2012 by head coach Rick Insell.

"I feel like this is a great move for both parties and Mariska has proven herself," Insell said. "She has been very loyal to Middle Tennessee, to our coaching staff and this program. She brings a lot of excitement. She wants to be a coach and be at Middle Tennessee. It's just a win-win situation.

"I'm excited for her to step into the assistant coaching role. We're very fortunate to get someone of her age with a lot of enthusiasm to come into that position, and I think that will carry over to our other staff members, in our recruiting and with our current players."

Harris, a Midstate native, joined the program in the summer of 2010. She played collegiately at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn., where she was a 2007 and 2008 NAIA All-American and Academic All-American. She played for four-straight NAIA National Tournament squads, including the 2008 national runner-up, when she garnered First Team All-Tournament on the national stage. She was a three-time All-TranSouth Conference First Team member and league Scholar-Athlete, who was voted to the 2007 "Brains and Brawn" First Team by the Tennessean and elected in 2008 to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

“I’m just extremely excited and thankful to Coach Insell, the University, Dr. McPhee and Chris Massaro for giving me the opportunity to move up and continue to be a part of the program,” Harris said. “I’m excited for this upcoming season and things to come in following years.”

In 2006 and 2007, Trevecca Nazarene recognized Harris as having a "Promising Future in Education." She completed her bachelor's degree in physical education in 2008, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 3.921 GPA. She recently completed her master’s degree in leisure and sport management at Middle Tennessee.

Harris played at the prep level with Ezell-Harding Christian School in Antioch, Tenn., where she was named a Miss Basketball finalist in 2004. She also was a member of the school's state championship squad in 2002. She arrives in Murfreesboro after serving as a varsity basketball coach and wellness teacher at Independence High in Thompson's Station, Tenn.

Harris has a variety of other camp experiences, as either a coach or counselor. She worked the 2007 and 2008 Pat Head Summitt Overnight and Day Camps and a pair of Vanderbilt Women's Basketball Camps.

She was married October 3, 2009, to Chris Harris, a member of the Trevecca Nazarene men's basketball team from 2005-09. Chris is currently an assistant boy's basketball coach at Overton High School in Nashville.