Baylor Women's Basketball Adds Assistant Coach Jaelyn Richard Harris

WACO, Texas – Baylor head coach Nicki Collen announced the addition of Jaelyn Richard Harris as an assistant coach to the women’s basketball staff on Monday morning.

“I’m excited to have Jaelyn join our staff,” said Collen. “She’s an up-and-comer in our profession, and her energy and passion, for both basketball and people, really stood out. I was looking for someone who wants to be great and is eager to walk alongside our players and staff on that journey, and Jaelyn fits that perfectly. When I talked with her former college coach, Nikki Fargas, she emphasized how committed Jaelyn was to doing things the right way. She was a leader on and off the court and had a unique ability to connect with people during her time as a player at LSU.”

Richard Harris joins the Bears after two seasons at Omaha, one season at Gulf Coast State College and a playing career at LSU.

While in Nebraska, the Mavericks combined for 22 wins with Ja Harvey being named the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year along with five additional All-Summit League selections announced in April.

Richard Harris’ single season at Gulf Coast State College was a one for the record books, as the Commodores earned a No. 1 ranking with a 16-game winning streak that led to a 25-win season. GCSC’s historic run ended in the second round of the NJCAA Tournament.

As a player, Richard Harris played in 116 games at LSU, shooting 33.7% beyond the arc across her four-year career. Off the court, she served as the Co-Chair of the SEC Women’s Basketball Leadership Council in the 2019-20 season, was a team representative on the LSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years and was featured three times on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Following graduation in Baton Rouge, Richard Harris spent the summer as a strength training intern at LSU.

The Houston, Texas, native was a runner-up in the 2016 6A UIL State Basketball Tournament with Spring ISD’s Dekaney High School.

“Her experiences at Gulf Coast State and Omaha have really prepared her for this opportunity and helped her grow as a coach,” Collen said. “Jaelyn will be deeply involved in recruiting, on-court coaching and guard development. Our players and fans are going to love her infectious smile and the joy she brings to coaching.”

Baylor women's basketball is presented by Central National Bank, a family-owned, independent bank headquartered in Waco, Texas, that provides uniquely personal service while simultaneously embracing the latest developments in banking technology.