FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 22, 2007

Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball
Alumnus Jason Harris Named Interim Head Coach
at Plymouth State University

Providence, RI—Former Rhode Island College men’s basketball standout Jason Harris (Bedford, MA) has been named the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Plymouth State University. Harris, who was an assistant coach for the Panthers in 2006-07, steps in for John Scheinman who is taking a one-year leave of absence.

 “I am thrilled with the opportunity to coach one of the premier programs in the Little East Conference,” said Harris.  “I hope to maintain the level of the program during Coach Scheinman’s absence. I would like to thank Mr. Clark and Coach Scheinman for having the faith to consider me for this position.”

After concluding his playing career as an Anchorman, Harris served as a student assistant coach under Bob Walsh at RIC in 2005-06.

He closed out his career in 2004-05, having played in 96 games, starting 75 of them. He totaled 877 career points, 667 rebounds, 105 steals and 92 assists. He averaged 9.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 assists per game for his career.

As a senior in 2004-05, Harris played 29 games, starting 28 of them, helping lead the Anchormen to the Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Regular Season Championship and to the title contest of the 2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Men’s Basketball Championship. He averaged 8.6 points, a team-high 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. Harris registered season-highs of 18 points and three blocks vs. Plymouth State, 16 rebounds, a career-high, vs. Roger Williams, three assists twice and four steals vs. Plymouth State. He was named to the Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll once.

As a junior in 2003-04, Harris played in 16 games, starting three of them. He averaged 8.9 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game. Harris registered season-highs of 21 points vs. Southern Maine, 12 rebounds vs. Plymouth State, three assists vs. Western Connecticut and three steals vs. UMass Dartmouth.

As a sophomore in 2002-03, Harris played in 26 games, starting 24 of them. He averaged 9.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He posted season-highs of 16 points vs. Becker, 13 rebounds vs. Eastern Connecticut, and four steals vs. Keene State.

As a freshman in 2001-02, Harris played in 25 games, starting 20 of them. He averaged a team-high 9.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game. He posted a career-high 22 points vs. Bridgewater State and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds vs. Western Connecticut.

He is a 2006 graduate of Rhode Island College with a bachelor’s degree in justice studies. Harris is a 2001 graduate of Bedford High School.

Jason Harris as a junior in 2003-04. 

-end-