Jason Harris became BSC's fifth director of athletics on Jan. 3, 2026. He begins his first year in the position and is also in his 12th non-consecutive year coaching basketball for the Mystics. This is his second year leading the Mystic women's basketball team since his return to BSC.
Harris is a native of Kenmare, N.D., where he was a five-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, golf, baseball and track. He went on to play baseball and basketball at North Dakota State University-Bottineau (now DCB), where he was a First-Team all-state, First-Team All-Region and Second-Team All-MonDak selection, averaging 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game for the Lumberjacks. He was inducted into the Dakota College at Bottineau Hall of Fame in 2023.
Harris went on to compete as a Mystic dual-sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball. Harris was the first baseman for the 1992 Mystic baseball team which earned a berth in the NJCAA World Series.
Harris completed his basketball career at Minot State University, where he was the captain of the 1994-95 team, which advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. There, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in business education in 1995.
Harris began his coaching career with a two-year stint at North Shore High School, followed by five years at Glenburn High School. He accepted the men's basketball and baseball coaching positions at Dakota College at Bottineau after the 2001 season. Harris coached the "Lumberjacks" for seven seasons compiling a 108-103 record. He came to Bismarck State in the fall of 2009. In his first year, Harris led the Mystics to an 8th-place finish at the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament. In his five seasons as the men's head coach, Harris was named the Region and District coach of the year three times, while also guiding the Mystics to three National Tournament appearances.
In 2014, he transitioned to head women’s basketball coach and head softball coach, where he continued to lead competitive teams and build a strong culture of excellence before departing in 2017 to work in the private sector.
In 2024, basketball came calling again, and Harris returned to BSC. He led the BSC women’s basketball program to a 22-8 record, a Mon-Dak Conference championship and a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Region 13 Tournament. In the fall of 2025, the Mystics transitioned into the NAIA's Frontier Conference, and Harris led the program to their first NAIA victory, a 93-88 upset of No.17-ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.), the first victory for any BSC team over a ranked NAIA opponent.
THE HARRIS FILE
Personal
Year at BSC: 12th
Hometown: Kenmare, N.D.
Education: Minot State (N.D.), 1995 - B.S. Business Education
Family: Wife: Kari; Daughters: Kennedy, Piper, Harper, Hadley, Finley, Laker
Coaching Career
2024-present: Bismarck State College [Head Women's Basketball Coach]
2014-17: Bismarck State College [Head Women's Basketball Coach & Head Softball Coach]
2008-14: Bismarck State College [Head Men's Basketball Coach]
2001-08: Minot State-Bottineau (now Dakota College at Bottineau) [Head Men's Basketball & Head Baseball Coach]
1997-2001: Glenburn High School [Head Coach]
1995-97: North Shore High School [Head Coach]
Playing Experience
1994-95: Minot State (N.D.)
1992-93: Bismarck State College
1990-91: North Dakota State University-Bottineau (now Dakota College at Bottineau)
Updated January 2026
