Shawn Harris begins his first season as an assistant coach at Vanguard University in 2016-17 season. Harris arrivesat Vanguard after serving 15 years at the high school level throughout the Inland Empire as a varsity coach, coaching men and women's; and more recently he gathered valuable experience on the Junior College scene at Mt. San Jacinto College as a men's assistant coach, with responsibilities in player development, academic mentorship, and top recruiting coordinator due to his strong relationships with sponsored AAU programs.
Before becoming a coach, Shawn was a distinguished retail executive with the top Fortune 500 companies in various locations throughout Southern California. In 2010, he was recognized for his tireless work in the community, and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Menifee for several years, modeling the way for "service before self."
He also founded Erudition Leadership Academy and ELA ELITE, who's mission is to provide resources to stimulate education, leadership, and social growth; building character by equipping our youth with the vital skills necessary to become effective leaders in their immediate communities through empowerment, discipline, self-respect simultaneously through sport development. The organization serves as a viaduct to unify parents and educators, community leaders, local businesses, and all other community agencies that are dedicated and committed to the development of social and ethical behavior of our youth, utilizing sports as a powerful elixir to build confidence and promote unity in our community. Shawn has a strong passion to serve God and his community, with a spirit of progression not perfection.
As a decorated military veteran of the United States Marine Corps for eight years, he understands the importance of strong leadership, discipline, and the motto of "Leave no man behind", where his has demonstrated countless times as a coach is that respect, integrity, hard work and dedication, has no substitute and is imperative for success.
Shawn grew up in Berlin, MD., and earned a bachelor's of science degree in management from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Neki, have three children total, two which are young adults in college: Dionte', and Deshaun, as well as their youngest, Dominick Harris, who is a high school freshman, attending Pacifica Christian High School Orange County.
