Thursday, May 29, 2014

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Jeff Harada has been named the new head women's basketball coach at Central Washington University.

For the past three seasons, Harada has been an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy.
 
"I'm very grateful and humbled to be the next coach of the women's basketball program," Harada said. "I look forward to leading this program and putting a product on the floor that the university and Ellensburg community can be proud of." 
  
"We're extremely excited for the future of our women's basketball program under Coach Harada's leadership," Central Washington University athletic director Dennis Francois said. 

"His track record and his experience at the Naval Academy speak to his belief in the student-athlete experience, knowing that the student part of the equation comes first."
 
Navy went to the post season during each of Harada's three seasons serving on the bench. The team went 24-8 last year and earned a bid into the Women's National Invitational Tournament.

That followed back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.   
 
Previously, he was the head women's coach at Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU), where he took over a team that had won only two games during the season before his arrival.
 
"Having gone through the process of building a program before, combined with what I've learned from my time at Navy, gives me the confidence that I can do it again," Harada said.   
 
During his tenure at HPU, the Sea Warriors won 58 games, including taking 36 of the 50 games played over his final two seasons there.

In 2010, Harada's team won its first Pacific West Conference title, advancing to its first NCAA Division II Tournament. Harada was tabbed as the conference coach of the year that season.
 
"Being a former DII coach in the West region, I'm familiar with the league and know how competitive and how tough the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) is," Harada pointed out. "But I think there is no reason why Central shouldn't be right there competing for a GNAC title." 
  
"We have high expectations and I'm confident in his ability to develop a culture of winning here, both on and off the court," Francois said.
 
A native of Honolulu, Harada, who lettered in basketball, baseball, and volleyball in high school, says he looks forward to a return to the West Coast.
 
"A lot of my friends, a lot of my contacts are still involved in coaching and in basketball there," he added. "My recruiting niche is the West Coast and it's the area I've specialized in [for Navy]. I think that will play a major factor in being able to recruit the kind of players we will need to be successful."    
 
Francois agreed, saying, "Coach Harada's familiarity with the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, in terms of recruiting the brightest and best student-athletes, will be highly beneficial."
 
Harada began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Colorado, as a volunteer assistant. He later became the team's director of operations. In addition, he was an assistant coach for the HPU men's program before taking over the women's team.
 
Francois said, "I believe seeing the game from the men's side, at different institutions and different levels, brings a perspective that will not only benefit our basketball program, but also benefit our athletic department, Central Washington University, and the Ellensburg community," Francoois said. 
 
Harada, who will start his new position in June, succeeds Shawn Nelson, who resigned after three seasons.