The College of the Sequoias proudly announced the hiring of Lamel Harris as its new Director of Athletics in 2007. 

   Harris served as an Associate Athletic Director at California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson for eight years.  Prior to moving into administration, he served as an assistant basketball coach at the university for four seasons.  He began his professional career as a social worker.

   Originally from the Bay area, Harris attended West Valley Community College in Saratoga before accepting a basketball scholarship to Carroll College in Helena, Montana where he earned his undergraduate degree in Social Work.  He later earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from CSU Dominguez Hills.

   Harris was one of three finalists for the position after a ten-person screening committee narrowed down the original field of 22 applicants.  Cindy DeLain, Dean of Nursing, Allied Health, Physical Education, and Athletics chaired the committee and comments, “We were very impressed with the depth and quality of our candidate’s pool.”

   Harris inherits a 19-sport athletic program that has just added men’s soccer.  He will start on Monday, August 13, the first day of the fall semester.  He replaces Brent Calvin who left the position to become the new Dean of Business and Social Sciences earlier this summer.

   Mr. Harris has two children, Jaylyn and Miles and is looking forward to moving to Visalia and becoming a member of the COS community.