The Journey: Raina Harmon finds perfect fit at FGCU

On3’s Talia Goodman is showcasing women’s college basketball coaches taking over at new schools. This is the sixth 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 Raina Harmon, the new head coach at FGCU.

Raina Harmon bio

HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI

EXPERIENCE: 2017–25: Iowa, 2012-17: Central Michigan, 2010-12: Michigan (DBO)

Why FGCU?

Harmon wasn’t racing to leave Iowa after eight seasons, but the opportunity to lead one of women’s basketball’s premier mid-majors was too good to pass up.

“I was in no rush to leave,” she said. “I loved the culture, the people, the community and the fans – everything about it. But about two and a half years ago, I started to get that head-coach itch.” 

Watching Jan Jensen make the leap from associate head coach to head coach at Iowa convinced her she could be a head coach without losing close relationships with players.

A closer look at FGCU sealed the deal. 

“They’ve been at the top of my list for a few reasons,” Harmon said. “In the COVID bubble we were in the same hotel. I loved everything about them — raining threes. Everybody knows that I’m ‘where my shooters at,’ that style of play. Then we came to their tournament in Fort Myers and I thought, this is really cool down here…the beach, sun, palm trees…seeing FGCU play over the last few years and how the community supports them was super important.”

But family played a role, too. 

“My mom lives in Tampa and recently beat breast cancer,” Harmon said. “I’m an only child and she’s a widow, so being closer to her was appealing for me.” 

When she saw a “thank you” post from Chelsea Lyles signaling the job would open, she showed it to Jan Jensen on the bus ride home from the NCAA Tournament. 

“I said, ‘I have to at least ask.’ Three months later, here I am.”

Harmon’s coaching style and mindset

Freedom, pace and purpose describe what FGCU fans should expect from Harmon’s team. And of course, shooting 3-pointers. 

“It’s all about freedom, pace and space — getting threes off early, but the best threes,” she said. “We’ll have an open system in the half court. The threes will be flying. I’ve never been one to shy away from shooting threes early if it’s a good shot and if a player has proved she can hit that shot. The way we go about it might be different, but to the casual fan the end result will look very similar.”

Her final season at Iowa was key to learning how she wants to lead a team now as a head coach.

“I am so thankful and blessed that I had an opportunity to be under another first year head coach,” Harmon said. “You see the decision-making in year one up close. In this landscape, your title says head coach but you’re also a general manager with NIL/rev share and the portal.”

When Harmon officially took over and started building her roster, she was looking for great people above all. 

“I can’t just sign anybody because they have stats…,” she said. “People first, people always. I want players who play for something bigger than themselves and whose values align.”

While FGCU’s play style may look similar to in past years, there’s one key change Harmon made in its personnel.

“We might be significantly taller than past FGCU teams – as tall as 6-3,” Harmon added. “The fan base let me know right away that they wanted length.”

Something you may not know about Harmon

Harmon’s creativity goes farther than just on the hardwood.

“I’m really into music — not just listening,” she said. “I produce beats and I’ve done a rap for our senior class every year for the last five years. I lay the vocals and produce the tracks. I was a percussionist in high school and still play the drums. If I weren’t coaching, I’d probably be a music producer.”