HAMPTON — Virginia Peninsula Community College announced it has selected Chris Harper, a former assistant women’s basketball coach at Christopher Newport University and The Apprentice School, to be its women’s basketball coach.
Harper is the athletics director at Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News and has more than 20 years of high school and college coaching experience, VPCC noted.
“He’s already hit the ground running. He’s already making phone calls and he’s energetic about the process and the program,” said VPCC Athletics Director Chris Moore.
Harper, returning to coaching after taking a hiatus while his youngest daughter was in college, is excited to lead the program, VPCC said.
“I prayed that once my daughter finished up her college career, I could get back into coaching. This opportunity presented itself a year after the fact,” he said. “I’ve always been an assistant at the collegiate level, I wanted to be a head coach.”
He said he’s familiar with VPCC and loves its mission and location, “It’s grassroots level.”
Harper said first on his to-do list is to learn and embed himself in the culture of the college.
“Not just to get to know the student-athlete, the student experience. I want to get to know the professors,” said Harper, adding he’s all-in on everything he does. “What’s it feel like to be on the inside? What’s going on day-to-day?”
Harper was the assistant women’s basketball coach at Stratford University in 2018, at CNU in 2011-12, and at Apprentice in 2009-10. He also has coached at Tabb High School and Grafton High School, along with numerous AAU programs, the college said. He has a bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure studies from CNU and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He lives in Yorktown with his wife, Belinda. They have two daughters (Bianca Paul and Brianna Harper) and one granddaughter (Aniyah Neverson).
“I just love his energy. I’m excited about having him on board,” Moore said. “I’ve already gotten calls from people saying, ‘That’s a great hire.’ He’s got a great reputation.”
Harper said he enjoys working with young athletes and wants to share with them the life lessons he’s learned, not just his basketball knowledge.
“I don’t want them to make the same mistakes (I) made,” he said.
Harper replaces Mariah Parker, who stepped down after a year at the helm to concentrate on her family, VPCC said.
For more information on the college, visit vpcc.edu. For more on VPCC athletics, go to virginapeninsulacc.prestosports.com/landing/index.
