Following her hiring as the Kathy Delaney-Smith Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Basketball, Carrie Moore has made her first additions to the staff by adding Steve Harney and Ali Sanders as assistant coaches. Harney and Sanders join the Harvard women’s basketball program after stints at Rider University and Monmouth University, respectively. Coach Moore is delighted with the level of experience this duo will bring to the team.
“I am thrilled to have Steve and Ali join our program,” said Moore. “These two were exactly who I wanted to help me in moving this team forward in the best way. Both coaches bring an incredible work ethic, unique experiences from a variety of levels, and most importantly, have contagious energy and personality that will translate incredibly well to our current players, recruits, and throughout the Harvard community.”
Harney will be responsible for coaching up the Crimson guards along with coordinating summer camps, scheduling and skill development.
“Steve is someone I’ve known since my time at Princeton, and I have a ton of respect for how he works.” Said Moore. “He’s a thinker and teacher of the game and will have a tremendous impact on our players in a variety of ways, especially skill development. Beyond that, he’s a winner, competitor and someone that truly values people. He believes in me and in Harvard, and that meant a lot throughout this process. We’re lucky to have Steve here in Cambridge.”
Harney joins the Crimson after a four-year tenure at Rider University where he rose through the coaching ranks to impact the team in different roles. Most recently, Harney served as an Assistant Coach, Director of Player Development and International Recruiting Coordinator for Rider. With Harney’s help, the Broncs secured their first-ever MAAC championship and NCAA Qualifier after going 26-4 overall in the 2019-20 season. Harney also mentored the first-ever two-time MAAC Player of the Year, NCAA scoring title recipient, and WNBA Draft pick, Stella Johnson. Additionally, Harney coached the first-ever MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Amari Johnson, and the first-ever MAAC Rookie of the Year Makayla Firebaugh.
No stranger to Ivy League hoops, Harney served as an assistant coach on the Dartmouth Big Green women’s basketball staff for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons before moving on to Rider. The 2017-18 Big Green squad posted the program’s first winning record since 2008-09 with help from Harney, who served as a post-player development coach and lead analytics liaison on the staff.
Prior to Dartmouth, Harney spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. During his time at Allegheny, Harney served as a skills and defensive coach while assisting in the recruitment of players who brought the Allegheny program its first win over a National Top 25 team.
The Dickinson College graduate is eager to get to work in Cambridge
“When Harvard calls, you answer. And when Carrie Moore is on the other end, you answer quickly. And that’s exactly what I did when she called to invite me to Cambridge and help lead the next generation of Harvard Women’s Basketball,” said Harney. “When I was young, my parents raised me to ‘work hard and smart,’ so living and working in an environment that pushes for excellence each day, gathers together to cooperate and innovate, and then takes equal time to reflect and rejuvenate fits seamlessly with my personal and professional philosophies. Being able to work alongside Coach Moore, someone who I have grown such an admiration for over the years, is simply a dream come true. Her ability to relate, connect, and inspire with players and colleagues will help take Harvard— and our sport— to new heights. I am humbled at the opportunity to build on a strong foundation set by Kathy Delaney-Smith and the Friends of Harvard Women’s Basketball. I look forward to the responsibility of stewarding this program into a new era alongside Coach Moore, our staff, and our Harvard Women’s Basketball players. From my walks across the Charles River to my heartfelt interactions with people across Cambridge— special surrounds you at Harvard. And I’m just glad they called. Go Crimson.”
Joining Harney on Coach Moore’s staff is Ali Sanders, who most recently served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Monmouth University. While with the Hawks, mentored and developed the team’s post-players while also overseeing the recruiting efforts for the program. Scouting and academic development for the team’s student-athletes was also run by Sanders.
“Ali is someone I’ve admired from afar for a while now,” said Moore. “I first came across her during her time at Florida and just remember how awesome she made us all feel simply welcoming us to the arena for shootaround. She is mature beyond her years, has a tremendous presence about her, and deeply cares about the student-athlete experience. Her values align perfectly with Harvard and I’m eager to have her lead us in our recruiting efforts. She will be such an important piece to our coaching staff, and I can’t wait for her to get started.”
Prior to Monmouth, Sanders spent a season on the staff of the La Salle University Explorers in 2020-21. During her time in Philadelphia, she took control of recruiting operations for the Explorers’ program by identifying prospective student-athletes, creating recruiting presentations and creating content for new recruits. Sanders worked primarily with the post players while with La Salle and led video operations such as film breakdown and scouting reports.
Sanders brings a season of Power-5 experience with her to Cambridge, after serving as the Director of Video and Recruiting Operations for Penn State University in 2019-20. In this role, Sanders took the lead on recruiting operations for the Nittany Lions by organizing visits, communicating with recruits and breaking down video and film of prospects. As a video coordinator, Sanders helped the team break down and scout B1G opponents during the conference season. While serving in this role, Sanders also helped create original content for the team’s social media channels.
An Illinois native, Sanders began her coaching journey as a graduate assistant and assistant video coordinator at the University of Florida before transitioning to her first full-time role as a video coordinator at Marquette for the 2018-19 season.
A veteran of the game, Sanders herself has experience playing at the collegiate level. As a guard for Florida Southern, Sanders led the team in scoring her junior season (2013-14) before transferring to play at Southeastern University in her final year of eligibility.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join Carrie at Harvard,” said Moore. “I look forward to coaching and empowering our student-athletes and serving the Harvard community. Go Crimson!”
Sanders will be in charge of developing Harvard’s forwards along with leading recruiting efforts for the program. Sanders will also serve as the staff scout coordinator and the counseling/health awareness (CAMHS) liaison.
