Kellie Harper Husband Jon Harper Has Been Her Assistant Coach

Publish date: 2024-05-21

Kellie Harper husband Jon Harper married on May 15, 1999. Jon is an assistant basketball coach at the Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Harper is currently in her fourth year of leading the Volunteers women basketball team. A former Lady Vols alum, Kellie Jolly was the starting point guard for the team even during their three consecutive wins at the NCAA women's national championships from 1996 to 1998.

She was also named to the Final Four All-Tournament team in 1997. Jolly was a brief part of the WNBA Cleveland Rockers but ventured into coaching the year after.

Mrs. Harper won the 2019 Kay Yow Coach of the Year award as she displayed great character on and off the court. 

Jon Harper Is An Assistant Coach

Jon is Kellie Harper's husband turned colleague. They started their career at Chattanooga Mocs as fellow assistant coaches from 2000 to 2003. 

The two then headed to Western Carolina Catamounts for the 2004-05 season. Kellie was the head coach, while Jon was her assistant coach for five seasons until 2009.

Kellie then moved to NC State Wolfpack in North Carolina for the next five seasons taking Jon with her. Missouri State Lady Bears of the Missouri Valley Conference became the home of this married pair for the next six seasons until 2019.

Jon looked over impressive players, including Kenzie Williams, Liza Fruendt, and Tyonna Snow, the 2016 MVC Player of the Year.

The list continues with Alexa Willard and Danielle Gitzen, the team's first-team selection and choice in 2018 and 2019. Mr. Harper is enjoying his 16th season as a notable Kellie Harper's coaching staff member. 

Before his stint with his wife, Jon is a 1999 graduate of the University of Tennessee in Health Promotion and Sports Management. He initially taught physical education at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn. 

Meanwhile, he was also the school's assistant football coach before moving to the Chattanooga staff with Kellie. He is on Twitter as @JHarp_10, sharing his life on and off the NCAA court.

Kellie Harper Married Life

Kellie Harper and Jon Harper got married on May 15, 1999. Jon married shortly before graduating from the University of Tennessee in March of that year.

With their successful careers on the line, the two have been together for 23 years. Jon tweets on a special day and wishes his beloved anniversary each year.

The couple has moved from Cleveland, Auburn, Chattanooga, Cullowhee, Raleigh, Springfield, and Knoxville in their long marriage. Throughout all these places, they changed thirteen residences, including apartments, condos, hotels, and houses.

For their 2020 anniversary, Kellie and Jon opted to celebrate the big day at home and color-dying t-shirts for everyone in the house. Meanwhile, the two went out for a dinner date for their 2021 wedding commemoration.

However, the event was more for celebrating Kellie's former teammate, Tamika Catchings' induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Jon usually posts his love messages with sarcastic and funny tweets, which have garnered much attention from NCAA fans. 

Kellie Harper Children

Kellie Harper is a mother to two children; son is named Jackson Harper and her daughter is named Kiley Harper

Jon often stays home to look after the kids as the Vols coach remains busy training her players. He often shares his restaurant dates with his son and daughter on social media.

Jackson Harper

The eldest child of the Harper clan, Jackson Kenneth Harper, was born on November 26, 2013, when his parents were coaching at Missouri State.

Jackson celebrated his recent birthday at home while his mom was away since the Tennessee Lady Volunteers were facing off against Colorado Buffaloes that night.

Jackson also joins his parents beside the basketball court to cheer for the Lady Vols. 

He started attending NCAA games right after birth due to Kellie and Jon's inseparable bond with the league.

His father had first tweeted Jackson attended the games as a newborn when Missouri State was playing at Indiana State on January 25, 2014. He also witnessed his first visit to the national championships in April later that year.

Jackson Kenneth grew up watching Ninja Turtles and munching on pizzas and cakes. 

Kiley Harper

Kiley Jean Harper was born on June 19, 2018, earlier than her delivery date. Like her elder brother, the four-year-old is a big fan of eating outside.

She prefers eating at Chuy's Restaurant alongside her dad and brother. She and Jackson have grown up to be best friends, and the two visited Jon's school in Auburn in March 2020.

As the daughter of two basketball coaching experts, little Kiley has attended many NCAA games and sometimes plays ball with the Lady Vols team members.

She is also best friends with Maysen Garrick, the Vanderbilt Commodores' head coach, Shea Ralph. The little girls are two weeks apart and sit together during the games.

Moreover, Kiley and Jon recently had a daddy-and-daughter date night on February 22, where they ate chips and queso.

Kellie Harper Family Members

Kellie Harper family includes Jon and two kids. The Harpers are living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Despite their busy work routine, the Harper pair has successfully looked after their little ones. The 2020 Covid-19 lockdown proved to be beneficial for their family bonding time.

Kellie posted pictures and videos of her having fun with Jackson and Kiley during their homestay.

She helped the two practice right handwashing and to maintain social distancing during the pandemic. The mother-children trio of handwashing while singing to Rocky Top had won many hearts on Instagram that year.

Moreover, they also utilized their time by playing games and giving in social media trends. Jackson and Kiley's "Go Mommy" dance to support her games was another big hit in 2021.

Jon and Kellie have raised their little ones closer to their history with their schools and teams all these years. They usually go out to eat and sometimes have little picnics for fun.

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