On3’s Talia Goodman is showcasing women’s college basketball coaches taking over at new schools. This is the tenth edition of year two of the series – in which we’ll take a deeper look at some of the 60-plus coaches who took over new programs during a turbulent offseason. This time we learn more about Neil Harrow, the new head coach at LIU.

Neil Harrow bio

HOMETOWN: East Kilbride, Scotland
EXPERIENCE: 2022-25: James Madison (associate head coach), 2024: Los Angeles Sparks (assistant coach), 2015-22: Troy (assistant)

Why LIU?

Harrow targeted this job almost as soon as it opened. He has plenty of experience, but he knew his first head coaching job was likely going to be in a smaller league. LIU fit all of his ideal criteria. 

“I’ve lived in really small towns for years,” Harrow said. “JMU is a small college town and I was at Troy for seven years. I was like, well I like the NEC and I want a city. There’s no better job than LIU. I really targeted this right away. This is the one I wanted.”

Building the roster

When he took over, the portal had already claimed most of his roster. 

“A month had passed between the previous coach’s departure and me getting announced,” Harrow said. “Most of the team had jumped in the portal. So the start of it was me figuring out who I would want to get back and who I could get back. I tried to get two or three to stay, but two were getting NIL money at bigger schools. The third one I wanted back ended up being the only kid that I kept. I’m really happy – she fits the style I want to play.” 

From there, he started the rebuild. He had conversations with the previously-committed freshmen, looked at what he could add and started putting together a roster. 

Then, he hit the jackpot. 

“I had a young lady at James Madison for her freshman year,” Harrow said. “Kadidia Toure. She came to JMU as a 6-3 post and walked into a championship team. She wasn’t ready to play as a freshman. She transferred to Arizona State after that and as soon as I got the job, she was already in the portal.” 

She was Harrow’s first call. 

“She had A-10 and some P-5 interest…,” he said. “I didn’t sell a dream, I showed her the vision.” 

They watched film of how the best big in the NEC scored last year.

“I asked, ‘Is there anything she’s doing that you can’t do?’ She said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘If anything, we can do more….’ She committed before her flight home.”

Coaching mindset and culture

Off the floor, Harrow’s mindset is simple. 

“I want good people who are competitive and bring energy,” he said. 

On the court, he has a clear vision. 

“Basketball will always be a game of made shots,” he said. “Defense will be a priority – but not above the ability to put the ball in the basket. Nobody wants 48-45. Can we put 75 on the board every night?” 

That mindset shaped his personnel decisions as well.

“We aimed for shooters who can really make them,” he said. “Everyone that was coming in through the portal had to be able to shoot the three. And I wanted people that were athletic enough to guard.”

Something you may not know about Harrow

Harrow spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks. He credits that experience as a big mindset shift. 

“The game slowed down for me…,” he said. “It’s not about fancy — it’s about putting your best players in the right spots where they’re comfortable and give them real confidence.”

That clarity is now the backbone of his rebuild. 

“I just try to be somebody who helps people’s light shine,” he said. “Whether that’s at a happiness or success level. That’s how I want to be known.”