Bailey Harmon enters her fifth season on the Western Illinois Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff and is in her third year as an assistant coach. Her responsibilities include coordinating and organizing team travel, video coordination, film exchange, assisting in drill break down, and assisting in scouting.
"Bailey has worked her way up from a manager to a 2nd assistant coach," said head coach JD Gravina. "She is a loyal and meticulous worker, and really keeps our program moving. She is also a fast learner and has really embraced what we are trying to do offensively."
Harmon helped guide Western to one of its most prolific scoring seasons in program history during the 2015-16 season, as the Leathernecks set a new single-season scoring record with 2,434 points. The Purple and Gold also set program records in 3-point field goals made (292), field goals made (856), 3-point field goals attempted (918), and field goals attempted (2,118).
In 2014-15, Harmon was a pivotal part of the coaching staff that posted one the best records in recent history. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 2014-15 with a 17-13 record, best since 2005-06 where the Purple and Gold finished with a 23-7 record. Western Illinois finished league play witha 9-7 mark, the best since 2007-08.
Harmon has coached eight All-League selections, including the 2014-15 Summit League Player of the Year Ashley Luke. 2014-15 also saw Luke collect WIU's first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year. Harmon has also coached a pair of All-Newcomer honorees and one All-Tournament selection.
Harmon helped Western Illinois to a record 2,392 points in 2013-14, as the Leathernecks also broke the 15-year-old program record for field goals made by 80, totaling 846 in the 2013-14 campaign.
Additionally, WIU's 2013-14 season was highlighted by several other marks that rank second in Western's history, including scoring average (79.7), field-goal percentage (45.3 percent), 3-pointers made (220) and free throws made (480).
During a season in which Western Illinois defeated opponents from the Horizon League, Conference USA, Ohio Valley Conference, Atlantic 10, and the WAC, the Leathernecks finished 14-16 for the second straight year and posted their highest finish in the Summit League since 2007-08.
Prior to Western, Harmon concluded her playing career at the University of Illinois-Springfield, captaining the Prariestars during her junior and senior seasons. During her time at UIS, a current Division II institution, Harmon etched her name in the record books for three-point field goals made in a season. As a junior, Harmon set the record with 64 made three-point field goals, before breaking her own record with 67 made three-pointers as a senior. A native of Independence, Mo., Harmon also earned GLVC Second Team All-Conference and GLVC Academic All-League honors.
After finishing her playing career at UIS, Harmon was selected to participate in the WBCA "So You Want To Be A Coach" program at the 2012 Final Four in Denver, CO. She was only 1 of 50 NCAA female student basketball athletes to be selected for this prestigious program. This program assists female collegiate basketball players who are interested in coaching with professional development and career advancement through education, skills enhancement, networking, and exposure opportunities while increasing awareness regarding the availability of talented female basketball players.
Harmon competed as a sophomore at Cottey College, a NJCAA Junior College in Nevada, Mo. In her time there, she was named First Team All-Region and was an NJCAA Academic All-American.
Harmon graduated from Illinois-Springfield with a degree in Mathematics in 2012. She completed her master's degree in Sport Management at Western Illinois in May, 2014. Harmon and her husband, Chad Harmon, tied the knot in May, 2015, and reside in Macomb with their dog, Hooper.
