The sixth head men’s basketball coach in Shenandoah University history, Robert Harris, is preparing to enter his seventh season as the top man in the Hornets basketball program. Harris was named to the top position in October 2000 by former athletic director Dave Dutton after serving as the lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from July 1992 to October 2000.

After finishing 9-17 overall and 2-10 in Dixie play in 2000-01, Shenandoah improved to 15-12 overall and 9-5 in Dixie Conference play in 2001-02. This performance in Harris’ first full year as the head men’s basketball coach was the Hornets best season since the 1996 team went to the NCAA play, and earned him Dixie Conference Coach of the Year honors. He was the first SU basketball coach, male or female, to earn this honor.

In 2003-04, Shenandoah finished a Harris-era best-ever 16-10 overall and won a school-record 10 of 14 league games on the way to an appearance in the USA South Tournament final. The trip to the finals was the first for the program since 1996 and just the second overall in school history. The squad backed that performance up with a 15-12 campaign in 2004-05, a season that included an Apple Tip-Off Tournament championship, a win over Division II Shepherd, an overtime loss to Division I Liberty and a fifth straight trip to the USA South Conference Tournament semi-finals. Shenandoah is the only current school to make five straight appearances in the semi-finals.

Harris has also taken on leadership roles among his fellow basketball coaches. The 2006-07 season will mark his third year on the NCAA South Region ranking committee. In this capacity, Harris represents the USA South Conference to the NCAA and has a hand in selecting the national tournament championship field.

During his tenure as the Hornets recruiting coordinator, Harris has brought in such notable players as Onyie Onunaku, Jeremiah Lawrence, Chris Rhone, Kenneth Purnell, Ronald Merriwether, Ted Davis, Billy Blake, Cameron Jones, Tyson Thompson, Al White and Phil Dixon. All these players earned All-Conference honors, White and Dixon were All-Americans, and Dixon capped off his outstanding career by being named the DIIINews 1996 National Player of the Year.

In addition to his coaching duties, Harris serves the Athletic Department as an administrator as well. In July 1999, Harris was promoted to assistant athletic director for promotions and marketing after serving as its coordinator for three years. In this role, Harris works with senior Athletic Department staff to develop additional athletic financial support.

Harris was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and is the son of Laura and the late Robert Harris, Sr. Harris graduated from St. John’s College Prep School in 1987 where he played two years of varsity basketball under the legendary Joe Gallagher. It was under Coach Gallagher that Harris developed a winning attitude and strong discipline qualities. At St. John’s, Harris also achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, as which he led four squads totaling 28 cadets.

Harris earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Shenandoah. In 1991, he earned his bachelor of science degree in mathematics and then received his master’s in business administration in December 1995. During his playing career at Shenandoah, which encompassed Don Carter’s last season and Dave Dutton’s first three years, Harris was part of the most successful era in SU basketball history. In his final three seasons, all under Coach Dutton, the team won three regular season ESAC Championships, two ESAC Tournament Championships, and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Harris was a starter on the 1990-91 NCAA Tournament team that finished 21-6 and was also ESAC regular season Champions. He was also the President’s Cup Winner in 1991, an award given to the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

Harris also functions as an adjunct professor in the College of Arts & Sciences.

In his free time, Harris serves the community in many ways. He has been involved in "Choices", a program geared to the development of high school students in the Winchester/Frederick County community, and graduated from Winchester/Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Program. Additionally, Harris was the keynote speaker at the 1998 Shenandoah University Staff Development Day and is a member of the BB&T Shenandoah Valley and Winchester/Frederick County Youth Development Center advisory boards.

Harris is the father of Carson Trent Harris, 2.

Derek Helman, a 2000 Shenandoah graduate, is entering his sixth season on the Hornets coaching staff. Helman was named as the lead assistant in the program in October 2000 after Rob Harris was elevated to head coach.

As a student at Shenandoah, Helman participated in both men’s basketball and golf for three seasons after transferring from West Virginia University. In Helman’s freshman basketball season, he was named Dixie Rookie of the Week three times and was runner-up for the conference Rookie of the Year award. During his senior year in 1999-2000, Helman earned second team All-Dixie Conference honors after averaging 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Hornets 13-12 squad. He was also All-Tournament at the F&M Bank-Winchester and Villa Julie Tournament, the Villa Julie Tournament MVP, a three-time member of the d3hoops.com Team of the Week and the Dixie Conference Player of the Week on January 31, 2000. Helman earned all of these honors as he won three contests with buzzer beating shots.

As a golfer, Helman turned in the team’s top stroke average all three years and helped the squad set a new 18-hole total on four different occasions in his senior year.

As Harris’ top assistant, Helman is in charge of recruiting, film exchange, opponent scouting and equipment management. His on-the-floor coaching responsibilities will focus on the perimeter players.

Helman is a native of Greencastle, Pa.