After 32 years as a basketball coach, Bailey Harris takes on new role at Ben Lippen
Bailey Harris retired from coaching basketball full-time in February but he might be in the gym more now than he was in his 32 seasons on the sidelines.
The Hall of Fame hoops coach stepped down at Lexington after last season. The Wildcats went unbeaten in the regular season and made the Class 5A Lower State Championship. On Tuesday, Ben Lippen School announced Harris will be its new director of basketball and coaches development.
“I’m in the gym or at games four or five times a week,” Harris said. “I’m either going to Ben Lippen games or at a Lexington game or watching some of my former players play or coach. I have watched more basketball now than when I was coaching.”
In the offseason, Harris, 56, began working with Ben Lippen School’s athletic department in a variety of roles.
He helped out with Ben Lippen’s boys and girls basketball coaching searches and is usually at two or three practices a day between varsity and middle school programs.
In addition to basketball duties, he will be working with coaches on development and helping with athletes’ spiritual development at the Christian-based school.
Harris said his new role helps him stayed involved in basketball and getting to influence coaches and players. He has no desire to return to full-time basketball coaching at this time.
“Try to be there and do whatever they need me,” Harris said. “I do a little bit of everything, whatever needs to be done. Just try to help others deal with things and answer any questions. I have really enjoyed it.”
Harris won 637 games at Lexington. The Wildcats won state titles in 1996 and 2000. Harris won at least 20 or more games in a season 17 times, including 10 straight years from 1993-94 to 2002-03.
Harris retired from teaching after last school year but remains Lexington’s boys cross country coach. The Wildcats finished third this year in the Class 5A championships last month.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 12:26 PM.
