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NKU adds Northern Arizona graduate transfer Harris; TMU names co-interim volleyball head coaches


NKyTribune staff

Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball head coach Darrin Horn announced Thursday that graduate transfer Karl Harris has enrolled and will play for the Norse during the 2019-20 campaign.

Harris, a 6-foot-5 guard, redshirted last season at Northern Arizona but averaged 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 campaign. During that season, he netted double-figure scoring 13 times, including 11 of the final 15 games during which he averaged 11.3 points. Harris earned 10 starts for the Lumberjacks in 2017-18.

“We are thrilled to get a player like Karl this close to the school year,” Horn said. “Karl will bring great maturity and versatility in addition to athleticism and size on the perimeter.”

Karl Harris averaged 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 campaign at Northern Arizona. The 6-foot-5 guard will play at NKU this season as a graduate transfer. (Northern Arizona photo)

While at Northern Arizona, Harris scored a career-high 23 points against Idaho State. Harris shot 38.3 percent from the field in 2017-18 and made 81.9 percent of his free throws.

Prior to Northern Arizona, Harris spent the 2016-17 season at Indiana Hills (Iowa) Community College and averaged 4.1 points per contest. He scored a career-high 18 points against Ellsworth Community College on Feb. 8, 2016, for Indiana Hills.

A native of Chicago, Harris spent his first collegiate season at La Salle, where he appeared in 25 games off the bench and averaged 2.6 points per contest. Harris netted 12 points in just 16 minutes at Saint Joseph’s as a freshman, draining four 3-pointers.

Harris is the fourth player signed by Horn for the upcoming season. NKU earlier signed Adham Eleeda, John Harge and Bryson Langdon. He joins a Norse squad that has won two of the last three Horizon League Tournament championships.

NKU returns nine players from last year’s squad, including four starters in Jalen Tate, Tyler Sharpe, Dantez Walton and Trevon Faulkner. Tate, Sharpe and Walton combined to average more than 39 points per game during the 2018-19 campaign.

THOMAS MORE NAMES CO-INTERIM HEAD COACHES: Thomas More has named Katie Sullivan and Elly Ogle as co-interim head coaches for the women’s volleyball program. Sullivan and Ogle are stepping in for John Spinney, who resigned recently to become the head coach at Mount St. Joseph.

In addition, former Thomas More setter Jenna Fessler has joined the Saints as an assistant coach. Fessler won the Honda Inspiration Award this summer and finished her career with 4,512 assists and 1,008 digs.

“We are excited that Katie and Elly have agreed to serve as co-interim head coaches of our women’s volleyball program,” Thomas More athletic director Terry Connor said. “With their and Jenna’s familiarity of the team it will make for a smooth transition as the program begins competition in the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference.”

Katie Sullivan

Sullivan brings eight years of experience as an assistant coach on the Thomas More staff, in addition to a four-year playing career with the Saints. She finished her career with the school record for hitting percentage at .326. Sullivan was a four-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection, including three seasons in which she was named to the first team. As a senior, she was named honorable mention All-Great Lakes Region.

“I am excited to continue to be a part of the storied tradition of Thomas More volleyball,” Sullivan said. “After both playing and coaching as a part of this university, I have an immense passion for and loyalty to making this program the best it can be for our players and school. I look forward to new challenges as we enter the NAIA and Mid-South Conference this season and a successful year.”

Ogle is starting her second season as a coach at Thomas More. As a player, she competed at the NCAA Division I level at Louisiana State University and the University of Cincinnati, participating in the NCAA Tournament at both schools. She was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll while at LSU and the Dean’s List at UC.

“I am really excited to be involved with the team again this year,” Ogle said. “We have a lot of starters returning and I think we are going to add a different aspect of team bonding to hopefully help our team chemistry this year on and off the court with three coaches that have been involved with the program.”

The Saints, who posted a 33-4 record last season and advanced to the regional finals while competing at the NCAA Division III level, are entering their first year of competition in the Mid-South Conference after returning to the NAIA.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Thomas More and staff reports)


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