Marcell Harrison, who joined the NJIT women’s basketball coaching in the summer of 2010, carries nearly two decades of experience as a star player and then as a successful coach at the Division I level to her post with the Highlanders.
She finished her playing career at George Mason University as one of that school’s great players, ranking third on the all-time scoring list, second in assists and three-point field goals and first on the career steals list.
Harrison was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree in 1992-93, a second-team all-CAA pick in 1991-92 and 1993-94, and a CAA all-rookie honoree in 1990-91. She was named to the CAA all-tournament team in 1994, after averaging 19.5 points per game and leading the Patriots to a school record-tying 21-9 mark and a spot in the conference championship game.
She went into coaching at her alma mater in 1994 and stayed there until 2007. As recruiting coordinator, Coach Harrison helped attract and develop 10 All-CAA performers, including two Rookies of the Year and four first-team award winners.
Six of the players she recruited went on to sign professional contracts after college, including two in the WNBA.
The Patriots tied the school mark for best record (21-9) in her tenure as coach, played in the 2001 CAA championship game and twice were selected to compete in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament in postseason.
Prior to joining the NJIT staff, Harrison coached two years at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, where the program advanced from six wins her first season on staff (2008-09) to 14 wins and a berth in the conference championship game a year later. At SCSU, she was involved in all aspects of the program, with specific service as recruiting coordinator and director of player development.
As the primary coach for the guards at South Carolina State, Harrison saw two of her pupils named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2010 all-tournament team. In addition, two Lady Bulldogs won All-MEAC laurels for the 2009-10 regular season.
A product of Troy, NY, in the Albany Capital District, Harrison is in the Troy High School Hall of Fame, the Troy Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame and the Capital District Hall of Fame. She was also selected to the CAA Legends Class of 2001.
She resides in Jersey City, NJ.
