Jaleesa Harper was named the 12th head coach of the women’s volleyball program at UNC Pembroke on January 25, 2023, after having worked in multiple coaching roles within the program since 2018. She initially joined as a graduate assistant prior to the 2018-19 season, served as an interim assistant for the 2019–20 campaigns, and then became a full-time assistant before being elevated to head coach.
In her debut season (2023), Harper guided the Braves to a strong 21-14 record, including a 12-5 mark in Conference Carolinas play, and led the team to the conference tournament championship match. Off the court, her team achieved a 3.465 GPA, earned recognition as an AVCA Team Academic Award recipient, and saw 16 student-athletes named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll. Prior to joining UNCP, Harper gained coaching experience at the high school and club levels. She coached the varsity girls volleyball team at Fike High School (Wilson, NC) from 2015, where she led the program to nearly 30 wins over three seasons and state playoff appearances. She also spent time coaching club volleyball with Wilson Elite and Carolina Shockwave. As a collegiate athlete, she played at Claflin University earning her bachelor’s degree in sport management & business administration in 2014, and later completed graduate work in sport administration at UNC Pembroke in 2020.
