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Jon Harper is in his fifth year as an assistant coach with the Lady Catamount basketball program. Harper came to Western Carolina from Tennessee-Chattanooga with his wife, Kellie, prior to the 2004-05 season. He continues to assist with recruiting responsibilities, as well as other day-to-day and on-court duties. Harper also coordinates all of the Western Carolina travel arrangements.
Harper works with the Lady Catamount guards and helped produce all-conference selections Chevon Keith, Monique Dawson, Ashley Pellom and Laren Powell. Under Harper's tutelage, Keith was named the Southern Conference's first-ever Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He has also helped produce a pair of SoCon All-Freshmen in Heahter Swayne and Emily Clarke.
In 2004-05 and 2005-06 he also worked with the WCU post players. During that time, he helped guide former Lady Catamount Jennifer Gardner to her 2005 Southern Conference Most Outstanding Player accolades.
Through three full seasons with the Lady Mocs, Harper injected terrific work habits and a knowledge of the game that paid big dividends for UTC. While helping develop Chattanooga's post players, the Lady Mocs have consistently been ranked among the league's best rebounding teams and
Harper got the coaching bug while serving as a manager for the Auburn Lady Tigers for three seasons from 1996-99, and he worked his way up to numerous administrative responsibilities with the team.
While working with the Lady Tigers, Auburn compiled a 58-29 record that included the 1997 SEC Tournament Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths in 1997 and 1999. Jon's first experience was in 1995-96 as part of a men's basketball team that scrimmaged the Lady Tigers. Later on in that season, he traveled with the team to the SEC and NCAA Tournaments where Auburn made it to the Elite Eight.
Harper joined the Auburn team as manager starting with the 1996-97 team and worked up to head manager in 1998-99. In 1998-99, Harper was charged with increasing responsibilities that included overseeing the men's team that scrimmaged the Lady Tigers and he eventually served an internship with the coaching staff.
Harper earned his bachelor's degree in Health Promotion/Sports Management in March of 1999 and in May of that year married the former Kellie Jolly. After receiving his degree, Harper taught physical education and was an assistant football coach at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn. He then moved into private business before joining the UTC staff along with Kellie.
