Dave Harnish
WNCC women's basketball coach

Four straight Region IX championships -- the most in Region IX -- is something that WNCC women's basketball coach Dave Harnish has on his resume. That is a very impressive feat. But, what is more impressive is what Harnish has accomplished in his 20 years as the women's basketball coach.
And, this year, the Cougar women are back on top of the region claiming the team's ninth regional title with a 51-48 win over Miles Communtiy College. The win also gave the Cougars a 30-win season, which was the teams sixth such title in seven years.

Harnish has quietly put up some Hall of Fame numbers, including a 548-109 overall record, including seven 30-win seasons, 4-straight Region IX championships, 20-plus wins in every season, nine total Region IX titles, a runner-up national tournament finish, ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2005, 12 NJCAA all-Americans and several players that have gone on to the Division I/II level. When you look at these numbers, Harnish has had a magical coaching career at WNCC. Just around the corner is something that is not too far off -- a national championship.

This year's team started November with three losses. And, after break, the Cougars have only lost once and have won 13-straight games. Two players were named to the All-region team -- Emma Beddome and Chelsea Lyles, while three were named to all-tournament team -- Beddome, Lyles and Shaquilah Davis.

Last season, the Cougar women finished the season with the least losses in school history by the women's basketball team. The only setbacks occurred to Casper College on the road, including the Region IX championship game at Casper. Still, the team had a successful season just like the previous four. The year before, the team finished the season at 32-4 and a 8th place finish at the national tournament. The team dropped their opening game before winning two straight to compete in the consolation finals. Last season was the school's fourth straight trip to nationals in women's basketball. The previous three were just as impressive.

In 2001-02, the Cougars finished 30-3 before losing in the semi-finals of the regional tournament. That lose motivated the team the following season as they had the best season in school history finishing 34-3 and played in the national championship game, which was something no other sport at WNCC had accomplished. The team also won its 500th game in the history of the college that year with a 72-49 win over Coffeyville Community College in the Air Force Prep Husky Invitational on Nov. 21.

In the 2003-04 season, the team finished 30-7 after starting the season 5-5. Harnish's team went on to win the regional title and then earned a spot on Championship Saturday at the national tournament finishing sixth. The next season, 2004-05, the team won the Triple Crown -- three straight regional titles. The team then finished the national tournament with a disappointing 1-2 record and a 9th place finish. That motivated the team for this past season and you can see the results.

What exactly makes Harnish so successful? He is knowledgeable about the game and knows the Xs and Os inside and out. Harnish, in fact, has always been successful at WNCC starting with his playing days in the late 1970s when he was on the Cougars' first men's basketball Region IX team (coached by know men's coach Ron Brillhart). From there he went on to start at Adams State College. After college, he came back here briefly as an assistant coach before following to Brillhart to the University of Northern Colorado. Then, in 1988, Harnish took over the reigns of the women's basketball program and helped bring the team from average seasons and performances at the regional tournament to national recognition.

In his 19 years of coaching at WNCC, Harnish has compiled a 331-57 coaching record against Region IX teams. And, don't expect the Cougar women to slow up anytime too soon. Three seasons ago, Harnish achieved a milestone in winning his 400th game against Kansas City Community College. This past year, Harnish won his 500th win against North Platte Community College. Harnish averaged an amazing 28 wins a season. Harnish has been named District coach of the year eight times and Region IX coach of the year six times. The Cougars will be entering their 31st year in women's basketball this coming season and Harnish is aiming for his 600th career win.

Harnish, though, couldn't achieve all this winning without the talented players that he brings in. Players come here and improve to attend several levels of four-year institutions, including Tatiana Conceicao, who starred at Southeast Missouri State University earning all-conference honors, player of the year, and helping the team to the NCAA national tournament. Other players that have had successful careers at the Division I level include Shana Coleman at Neveda-Las Vegas, Melantha Herron at Toledo, Awa Diop of Syracuse and Audrey Flageolle at George Mason. All the teams went on to the NCAA or NIT tournaments.

Outside of basketball, Harnish is a single father raising his daughter, Nicol, and son, Josh. Harnish is currently a physical education instructor at WNCC.

Jennifer Pedersen
Women's Assistant Basketball Coach
Athletic Director
Jennifer Pedersen is best known as Harnish's right-hand women. Pedersen is beginning her fifth year as the assistant coach at WNCC. Pedersen is no stranger to WNCC athletics having played for the Cougars in the mid 90s. Pedersen graduated from Rawlins High School in 1994 where she was standout volleyball and basketball player. After high school, Pedersen came to WNCC to play volleyball, where she was a standout middle hitter. At the same time, she also played for the women's basketball team.

Basketball, though, is where her heart was. In her freshman season, she helped the Lady Cougars to a 29-5 record and a Region IX championship. The next season, the basketball team finished 25-6. After WNCC, Pedersen transferred to Black Hills State and received her bachelors degree while starring on the basketball team.  After two years at Black Hills State, she was a graduate assistant for the Chadron State College women's basketball and volleyball teams while earning her Master's degree in Language Arts.

Pedersen also has many other duties at WNCC besides the assistant basketball coach. On the court, Harnish is her boss. Off the court, it is reversed as Pedersen becomes Harnish's boss as the Athletic Director at the college. Many of Pedersen's duties include  taping ankles, making hotel reservations, conducting conditioning programs and spring workouts, recruiting and plenty of paper work. As far as duties as Athletic Director, Pedersen has to manage the finances of seven sports and plenty of fundraising and other duties.