Coach Jessie Harris has left an indelible mark on Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) as a women's basketball and volleyball pioneer. Honored on February 11, 2017, the court in the R.W. Harrison Complex was renamed Stribling-Harris Court in recognition of his legacy.
Coach Harris is celebrated as the winningest women’s basketball coach in MVSU history. He led the Devilettes to three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships (1988, 1989, 1993). His record of 28 single-season wins still stands as a hallmark of excellence in all MVSU sports. Over his 27-year tenure, he amassed 380 wins and guided countless student-athletes to success on and off the court.
Beyond basketball, Coach Harris served as the women’s volleyball head coach from 1989 to 2002. His influence extended into the community with annual events that welcomed local elementary and middle school students to women’s basketball games, promoting youth engagement and school pride.
Early Life and Education
Born in Tutwiler, Mississippi, Coach Harris is the 10th of 13 children of Mr. & Mrs. Shep Harris. Raised in Mound Bayou, he excelled in basketball and baseball at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. His athletic prowess earned him a scholarship to Mississippi Valley State College in 1967, where he was a standout basketball team member for four years.
Career Achievements
After a brief teaching stint in New York, he returned to MVSU in 1973 as an assistant men's basketball coach. By 1975, he became the inaugural head coach of the reinstated women's basketball program, building a legacy of championships, community involvement, and student-athlete success.
Coach Harris’s accolades include:
- SWAC Coach of the Year (1982, 1987, 1988)
- Black College Coach of the Year (1989, Basketball)
- Inductions into the MVSU Alumni Hall of Fame, Athletic Hall of Fame, and SWAC Hall of Fame
Personal Life
A devoted New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church member in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Coach Harris serves on the Board of Trustees and as a Deacon. A proud father of two daughters, Yolanda and Tanya, and grandfather to five, he is also a 32nd Degree Mason, exemplifying leadership in all aspects of his life. Coach Jessie Harris’s journey is a testament to perseverance, leadership, and the transformative power of sports. His contributions continue to inspire the MVSU community and beyond.