Brittany Harris Named New Head Gymnastics Coach
Brittany Harris has been named the new head coach for the Centenary women’s gymnastics team, Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr announced on Thursday.
Shreveport – Brittany Harris has been named the new head coach for the Centenary women's gymnastics team, Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr announced on Thursday.
Harris will take over for current head coach Jackie Fain, who will retire after the 2022 season. Harris comes to Centenary from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. where she spent the last three seasons as the first assistant coach. Lindenwood, a Division II school, is a member of the Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) with Centenary. Harris is only the fourth female African-American head coach in NCAA gymnastics, and believed to be the first in DIII. She is the daughter of former NBA basketball player, Steve Harris, and Harriet Harris.
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with Brittany as she steps into the role of being the next head coach at Centenary," said current head coach Jackie Fain. "We had a very strong candidate pool, and Brittany stood out as someone who fit right into our program. Her knowledge of our program, from coaching at a rival conference school is a bonus, as she has seen what Centenary gymnastics is capable of and what our program is about. I am also eager to see what she brings to Centenary from her experiences at her previous two institutions."
In 2019 Harris helped lead the Lindenwood Lions to a record-breaking season as they were only the third Division II team in history to qualify for the NCAA post-season, competing in Round 1 of the NCAA tournament at LSU. The Lions finished their historic year taking home both the MIC championship and the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. Lindenwood also walked away with the 2021 MIC championship. Harris was named the Women's Collegiate Coaches Association (WCGA) Division II Regional assistant coach of the year in both 2019 and 2021, along with several other coaching accolades.
Outside of her coaching duties during her stint at Lindenwood Harris was involved with the WCGA, serving as the secretary of the Board of Directors, and involved in forming the organizations first Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also a graduate of the NCAA Woman's Coaches Academy.
"Centenary Gymnastics has been nothing but a stable, competitive and valued athletic program," said Orr.
"Jackie Fain has embodied coaching excellence and has not only been a fantastic role model and mentor to the Ladies, but has been a great ambassador for Centenary Gymnastics and the College."
"Brittany Harris has many of the same qualities as Coach Fain and we expect her to be an outstanding coach. Brittany has had an exceptional student-athlete and assistant coaching career, and has proven herself to be ready to lead her first gymnastics program. I am confident she will not only be a great coach, but a great mentor to our women's gymnastics student-athletes."
"I am beyond excited to have Brittany take over the reins of the Centenary Gymnastics program. I believe she is going to pick up where I leave off and bring Centenary Gymnastics to even greater heights," said Fain. "She has an undeniable energy about her, a passion for the sport of gymnastics, and her desire to make an impact on the people she leads is what Centenary gymnastics will continue to thrive on. I am eager to see the next era of Centenary gymnastics unfold under Brittany's leadership."
Harris, a Tulsa, Okla. native, was a standout gymnast at Oregon State University where she helped the Beavers reach the NCAA Championships twice (2011 & 2012). In 2013, she qualified for the national championships as an individual all-around competitor. The Beavers won the Pac-10 team Championship in 2011, and the newly formed Pac-12 Championship in 2013. Harris was named to the All-Pac-12 First-Team on the uneven bars in 2013 and the 2012 All-Pac-12 Second-Team on the uneven bars. Harris served as a student assistant coach at Oregon State from 2015-16 and a volunteer assistant for the Beavers from 2017-18. She graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences.
Harris was a top junior Olympic athlete before attending Oregon State, finishing fourth in the all-around and tied for third on the uneven bars at the J.O. National Championships in 2010, earning a spot on the National Team. Harris received the Shannon Miller Award in 2010, given annually to the top gymnast in the state of Oklahoma.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Centenary gymnastics program as their new head coach," said Harris. "The program, campus, athletics department, and community made me immediately feel like I was home."
"Coaching alongside Jackie Fain is an incredible honor, and I am very grateful for her during my inaugural year of leading the team. Our coaching philosophies and styles are very similar, and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store. It's my mission to develop champions in the classroom, the competition floor, their communities, and in everyday life. I am so ecstatic about getting to know each student-athlete and can't wait to get to work."
"I want to thank Athletics Director David Orr, Jackie Fain, and the entire athletics department for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity. I am excited for the future of Centenary gymnastics, and I know that the best is yet to come. Go Ladies!"
The Ladies begin their season on Friday, Jan. 14 at SEMO and begin their home season on Sunday, Jan. 23 versus Air Force at 2 p.m.
See the Ladies' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/gymnastics/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
