On Monday, August 3rd, Coppin State University in Virginia named former Cheltenham High School basketball star Laura Harper as the school’s new women’s basketball head coach.

“It is a dream come true to be named the new head women’s basketball coach at Coppin State University,” said Harper. “I am very thankful for the special opportunity that President Jenkins, Mr. Carter, Mrs. Person and Mrs. Carrington-Johnson have granted me. Having a platform as a woman of color, while coaching at an HBCU during this racially sensitive time in our country, inspires me, and I am beyond ready to help lead this group of committed, young women into a new era of Eagles basketball.”

Harper played college basketball at the University of Maryland, where she won a national championship. She went on to play professionally in the WNBA and overseas.

After her playing career, she went into coaching and held assistant coaching positions at the University of Florida, George Washington University, High Point University, and Loyola University (Maryland). Most recently she was the head coach at college preparatory school Montverde Academy in Florida.

“We are excited for Laura Harper to be joining the Coppin State family and look forward to her leadership during the next exciting phase of Eagles women’s basketball,” said Derek Carter, director of athletics at Coppin State. “Laura will bring incredible passion, energy, and a championship mentality to our team. Throughout her career, she has worked hard to establish herself as a winner in all phases of basketball. I feel that she will provide a valuable influence in the lives of the young women in our program.”

Photo: Coppin State University