With a combination of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, Eric Harrison has built an impressive resume as head coach of the Lehman College Lightning. Entering his 18th year in 2015-16, Harrison has amassed a 252-214 (.541) record, the winningest among women’s basketball coaches in Lehman history, surpassing the previous leader, Ted Hurwitz.
On January 30, 2015, the Lightning defeated the Beavers of CCNY, 67-63 in overtime, propelling Harrison to his 250th career win as the head coach of Lehman.
On the night of December 6, 2013, Harrison achieved a special milestone. With a 75-70 win over Gallaudet (D.C.) University, he earned his 225th coaching victory.
During the 2010-11 season Harrison earned his 200th career win in grand fashion with the Lightning defeating St. John Fisher College 62-59 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro Championship finals, the program’s first-ever ECAC title. The victory capped a 20-win campaign that also included the team’s fourth trip to the City University of New York Athletic Conference Championship finals in five seasons.
In 2007 his team followed up a 19-9 regular season by capturing its first-ever CUNYAC championship, defeating Baruch College 52-51, to earn a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. In recognition of his team’s outstanding season, Harrison was named the CUNYAC Coach of the Year, the third such time he was bestowed with the honor. He was also recognized in 2005, when the Lightning finished 18-9 (10-3 CUNYAC), and 2002, when it finished 18-11 (12-1 CUNYAC). The Lightning’s ’07 title would start a run of three consecutive appearances in the CUNYAC championship game thanks to records of 15-10 (11-2 CUNYAC) in ’08 and 20-11 (10-3 CUNYAC) in ’09.
Harrison’s success stems in part from his strong relationships with many of the nation’s top high school programs which have allowed him to recruit high caliber players to the Lehman campus. As a result of his strong recruiting, he has produced nine CUNYAC Rookie of the Year winners (most recently back-to-back winners in Amely Del Rosario in 2014 and Jennifer Navarro in 2013), four CUNYAC Player of the Year honorees (most recently Sally Nnamani from 2007-2009), Metropolitan Sportswriter’s Players and Rookies of the Year, and a host of CUNYAC All-Stars.
Since day one, Harrison has strived to create a first class program from top to bottom, with each season’s goal being to contend for a national title. “I want Lehman to be able to contend every season,” said Harrison. “It is a goal of mine to have our student athletes continue to prosper both academically and on the court, year after year.”
In the off season, Harrison assists such legendary coaches as C. Vivian Stringer (Rutgers), and Harry Perreta (Villanova) with summer basketball clinics, as well as lending his expertise at the legendary Five-Star basketball camps. A student of the game, he is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
Coaching runs in the Harrison family, as his twin brother Derrick is a former head coach at the City College of New York. With Derrick at CCNY, the Harrison twins made national headlines during the 1999-2000 season as their teams faced off in the first game that featured twin head coaches opposing each other.
Outside of his coaching responsibilities, Harrison is also integral to the athletic department as the scheduling coordinator for Lehman’s 18 varsity teams.
Harrison graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1994. A diehard Yankees fan, he currently resides in the Bronx, New York.
