Women's Basketball Coaching Staff
Rory Kuhn
Head Women's Basketball Coach
Coach Kuhn enters his second season as Head Coach of the Lady Commodores Basketball Program.
Rory Kuhn joined the St. John’s women’s basketball program prior to the 2017-18 season. In his first term as assistant coach, Kuhn helped the Johnnies to a 19-15 season including their 11th-straight postseason appearance, and first trip to the WNIT Quarterfinals.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Kuhn helped coach the Red Storm to an 81-74 upset over then-No. 8/7 Marquette. This win marked the best for the program in terms of national rankings in nearly a decade.
Most recently, Kuhn is coming off the 2019-20 season, where he helped lift the Johnnies to a 19-12, record including an 11-7 mark in conference play. As a result, St. John’s earned a third-place finish in the BIG EAST standings at the conclusion of the regular season.
Kuhn has worked primarily with the guards over his three seasons at St. John’s. He has also played an instrumental role in both recruiting and player development.
Over the last three campaigns, Kuhn has assisted in coaching a pair of All-BIG EAST selections (Maya Singleton and Qadashah Hoppie), as well as two major award winners’ in Hoppie (2017-18 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year) and Leilani Correa (2019-20 BIG EAST Sixth Women).
In addition, Kuhn mentored four BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selections. Prior to taking on the position as Assistant Coach for the Red Storm, Kuhn served as the assistant coach with the Northwest Florida men’s basketball program.
During his tenure at Northwest Florida, Kuhn helped guide the Raiders to an unprecedented level of success. Northwest Florida made three-straight NJCAA Elite Eight appearances, a pair of Final Fours and took home the 2014-15 National Championship.
In four years with Kuhn on the sidelines, Northwest Florida compiled a 111-19 record, won three Panhandle Conference Championships and back-to-back Florida State Championships.
Additionally, Kuhn mentored three-straight Panhandle Conference Players of the Year in Benji Bell (2014-15), Shadell Malinghaus (2015-16) and Jeromy Rodriguez (2016-17).
Prior to joining the Northwest Florida staff in 2013-14, Kuhn coached high school on Long Island for nine years.
During his playing days, Kuhn was an Academic All-American at Suffolk Community College. Following his stint at Suffolk, Kuhn completed his undergraduate degree at SUNY Cortland, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English. Later, Kuhn completed his Master of Science degree in Special Education.
jaelyn richard harris
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Jaelyn Richard Harris enters her first season with the Lady Commodores basketball program as an assistant coach. As a Houston, Tx native, she attended Dekaney High school and was a multi-sport athlete. She’s a 2x TABC All-State and All-Region honoree, finishing her highschool career as a 6A state runner-up in 2016. Coach Richard Harris is the only player in Dekaney’s girls basketball history to have her jersey retired.
In 2020, Coach Richard Harris graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Kinesiology and minor in Leadership. She was a 3 year starter for the Women’s Basketball program under Nikki Fargas and had 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Coach Richard Harris served 2 years as LSU’s representative on SEC Women’s Basketball Leadership Council, and was selected as Co- Chair of the 2019-20 Council in her final year.
Having thrived in competitive fields, she takes on a hands-on role to prepare our women to get to the next level. With a foundation of discipline and defensive passion, Coach Richard Harris’ style of coaching is much similar to what was her style of play.
SEC Academic Honor Roll – 2019-20
SEC Academic Honor Roll – 2017-18
SEC Academic Honor Roll – 2016-17
CAREER
* Shot 33.7 percent from three-point range and 77.8 percent from the free throw line over four seasons.
* Played in 116 games at LSU and made 63 total starts for the Tigers.
JoAnne Booker
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
JoAnne Booker enters her fifth season with the Lady Commodores basketball program as an Assistant Coach.
Coach Booker spent three seasons as an assistant coach under the legendary Coach Mary “Roonie” Scovel. She helped the Lady Commodores to two Panhandle Conference Championships, two Region 8 Championships, and a NJCAA National Championship in 2019. As a player, she was on the 2016 NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship. Coach Booker was a two sport Gulf Coast student athlete. During 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons, Coach Booker played on the Lady Commodore Softball team. After her two years of eligibility with the softball program, Coach Booker joined the Lady Commodores Basketball team for two seasons.
In 2018, Coach Booker graduated from Gulf Coast State College with a B.A in Organizational Management/ Health Services. She went on to attend FSU Panama City and graduated with a B.S in Psychology. Currently she is working towards her Masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Coach Booker is a Panama City Local. She attended Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, FL. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school. Coach Booker is the only female in Arnold history to letter in three sports all four years. She earned All-County in Volleyball, Softball, and Basketball all four years. She also earned All- State honors in basketball and softball.