After more than two decades under one legendary leader, FGCU women’s basketball is entering a new chapter — again. For 23 years, Karl Smesko built the Eagles into a conference powerhouse. Following his departure in the fall of 2024, Chelsea Lyles stepped in and kept the winning tradition alive, guiding the program to yet another ASUN title.
Now, FGCU is welcoming its third head coach in program history — Raina Harmon.
"First of all, have you seen this campus? I mean, it sells itself, right?" said Harmon during her introductory press conference.
A former assistant coach at the University of Iowa, Harmon brings eight years of experience from one of the top programs in the country. But for her, FGCU wasn’t just an opportunity — it was the opportunity.
"Florida Gulf Coast University was the measuring stick," Harmon added. "Every time my name came up for an opening, I'd ask myself, is this place like FGCU? Do they have the culture, the style of play, the hunger to win right away?"
That standard had to be met before she would even consider leaving Iowa — a program that competed at the highest level. And what sealed the deal? The culture within the team.
"When I talk about the right fit, these young ladies that are sitting to my left -- they're used to winning championships, and they're going to be coached by someone that's used to winning championships," Harmon said.
FGCU Athletic Director Colin Hargis said Harmon embodies the program’s values, both on and off the court.
"She invests in the student, not just the athlete," Hargis said. "To quote one of her former players: She will continue to develop young women to great players, but also great leaders."
Harmon also brings firsthand knowledge of the FGCU style of play — she saw it up close during the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase when Iowa faced off against the Eagles.
"Yeah, I'll tell you before we even took the floor, when we found out who we were going to have to play..." Harmon paused to make a stressed-out face. "That's a testament to this program."
She admired the Eagles' skill but was even more impressed by the team’s chemistry and energy.
"To be able to watch the energy, the passion, the players on the floor and the energy that the bench had for those coming in and out of the game, I knew that it was a place that they loved each other," she said. "They were like a family in a place that I would love to be at."
With her focus now on building a roster and assembling a coaching staff, Harmon says she already feels at home in the nest.