Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball hires Iowa assistant Raina Harmon as head coach
Alex MartinFGCU wasted little time replacing Chelsea Lyles as its women's head basketball coach.
The Eagles named Iowa assistant coach Raina Harmon on Friday as their third head coach in less than five months.
"It's a great day for FGCU to welcome Raina Harmon to the Nest as the next leader of our women's basketball program," FGCU director of athletics Colin Hargis in a statement. "Harmon's energy, passion and commitment to student-athletes combined with her coaching experience will champion the continued growth and success for the FGCU women's basketball program."
During her eight years with Iowa serving as assistant coach, Harmon helped the Hawkeyes to a 208-63 record and a combined five Big Ten Conference titles. Her other achievements include coaching and developing several WNBA draft picks and the 2024 AP and Naismith Player of the Year Caitlin Clark, eight berths into the NCAA tournament, and back-to-back National Championship appearances.
"I am absolutely honored to be named the next head coach at Florida Gulf Coast University. This position is one of the best jobs in the country and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such a prestigious program," Harmon said in a statement. "Thank you to President Timur, Colin Hargis, Nicole Neal and Lauren Leister for believing in my vision for the next era of FGCU women's basketball. This program has a standard of excellence, and I can't wait to build upon that legacy as I commit to developing our student-athletes on and off the court. I look forward to connecting with the FGCU community, our fans and most importantly, our players as we embark on this journey together."
The Eagles women's coaching carousel began when program-founding coach Karl Smesko resigned on Nov. 13, two games into the season, to become the head coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. Lyles, FGCU's associate head coach, was elevated to head coach the same day.
After leading FGCU (30-4) to a 30-2 record, its 11th Atlantic Sun championship in 14 years, and eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Lyles resigned on Monday, March 24, to rejoin Smesko as an assistant with the Dream on March 31. Lyles' resignation came two days after the Eagles lost to Oklahoma in the NCAA's first round.
Harmon will face a total roster rebuild as only four players are slated to return for the Eagles next season. Six players graduated, including two-time ASUN player of the Year Emani Jefferson. Four other players have entered the transfer portal ― freshman Kaelyn Flowers, senior Maca Retamales, redshirt junior Cerina Rolle, and fifth-year senior Casey Santoro (Youngstown State). That leaves just Maddie Antenucci, Jordan Campbell, Karina Gordon, Anna Mortag, and Emani Theodule.
Harmon has been an assistant coach for Iowa since being hired in 2017 to replace Lacey Goldwire on Lisa Bluder’s staff, then stayed on last May after Bluder retired and Jan Jensen was elevated to head coach. Harmon had been Jensen’s lead recruiter, and the Hawkeyes have been in deep with some high-level 2026 prospects, including No. 1 overall recruit Kate Harpring out of Atlanta.
Harmon’s coaching chops at Iowa were highlighted with her scouting report that helped the Hawkeyes take down Angel Reese and LSU in last year’s Elite Eight. Iowa finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2023 and 2024. Iowa was in the same Norman, Oklahoma Region as FGCU in this year's tournament, and like the Eagles, the Hawkeyes were eliminated by the Sooners in their Round of 32 matchup.
Prior to Iowa, Harmon spent two years at Michigan as the director of women's basketball operations before coaching at her alma mater, Central Michigan University. As the assistant coach at CMU, she helped the Chippewas punch their ticket to the Big Dance in 2013.
In an interview with the Des Moines Register last summer, Harmon was clear that she wanted to be a head coach someday but wouldn't take just any opportunity.
“My desire to be at a place I love with people I care about is greater than my desire to be a head coach. But I do desire to be a head coach,” Harmon said. “I don’t lead with that.”
― Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register contributed to this story.
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