Dan Harrison (Fourth Season)
Phone: 620-327-8159
Email: danh@hesston.edu
The 2011-12 season is Dan Harrison’s fourth year leading the Larks. His inaugural campaign resulted in a 17-14 record, the most wins ever for a first year women’s basketball coach at Hesston College. That season two players received post season honors—sophomore Katelyn Nussbaum was named Academic All American and freshman Kari Heusinkveld was named to the all-region team.
Harrison coached successful programs in basketball and golf at a variety of levels. He coached Kansas high school boys basketball at Minneola, Garden City, and Campus High School (Haysville). He also coached the Wichita State University women’s golf team from 1989 to 1993, winning the Missouri Valley Conference championship and garnering “Coach of the Year” honors in 1992.
Harrison joined the Hesston College faculty in 2004. He teaches psychology and education courses. “It has been a wonderful opportunity to return and coach at the college where I began my collegiate playing career (basketball and golf, 1977-79). My role is to help players to develop their gifts and to encourage them to bring out the best in themselves and their teammates. We want to be a caring and supportive community.”
Don Weaver, associate head coach (Fourth Season)
Don Weaver is entering his fourth year as an assistant for the Larks, serving as associate head coach and head of basketball operations.
Weaver brings broad experience in team sports and leadership to the team. A three-sport high school athlete, Weaver played soccer for Hesston College where he was a team captain and was named to the All-Region VI first-team. His prior coaching experience includes 10 years of coaching Mid-American Youth Basketball girls summer teams.
After 20 years in the business world, Weaver joined Hesston College in 2006 as Vice President of Finance and Auxiliary Services. He is a 1983 graduate of Hesston College and a 1987 graduate of Wichita State University.
“Team sports are a great environment to learn valuable lessons that can be applied to all phases of life. Coaching at Hesston College brings a unique opportunity to help foster an environment where our student athletes can develop in all phases of their life.”
Jennifer Smalley, assistant coach (First Season)
A 2007 graduate of Hesston College, Jennifer (Birky) Smalley played basketball at Hesston from 2005-07. During her sophomore season, she was selected for the all-tournament team at the Hesston College Thanksgiving Classic.
After Hesston, Smalley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Wichita (Kan.) State University in 2009, then completed a Master’s of Science degree in Family Therapy from Friends University, Wichita, Kan., in 2011.
“I’m very excited to be back at Hesston College and to be involved with the women’s basketball program again. Interacting with students and being involved with a sport I enjoy so much is a tremendous opportunity.”
Michael Smalley, assistant coach (First Season)
A 2007 Hesston graduate and former HC men’s basketball player, Michael Smalley joins the Larks’ coaching staff. After Hesston, he went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2010 and his Master’s degree in Social Work in 2011.
“I’ve had some history with Coach Harrison during summer leagues in high school and am thoroughly excited to be back with working with him now. Basketball has been a love of mine for quite a while and this opportunity is something I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait to interact with the players and see where this year can go.”
