Coaching Staff

Rick Harris: Head Coach

Rick Harris begins his fourth season as head coach of the CCRI men’s basketball team. He led the Knights to the Region XXI Championship in 2006-07, 2007-08 and in 2008-09. The 2006-07 squad went on to win the Northeast District Championship which led to a NJCAA National Tournament appearance in Danville, Ill.
Harris came to CCRI with more than 20 seasons of experience coaching high school basketball. He made his mark on the Rhode Island scene as the varsity boys’ basketball coach at Cranston East High School from 1990-2006 compiling 230 wins. Under his

direction, the team won three consecutive RIIL Division 1A State Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and was the state finalist runner-up in 2001. The team also won four RIIL Division 1 League Championships in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2004. Harris was chosen as Rhode Island Basketball Coaches Association (RIBCA) Coach of the Year in 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Prior to coaching at Cranston East, Harris coached with Joe Hassett Sr. at Our Lady of Providence and Jim Hopkins at both Cranston High School East and Johnston High School. He began his coaching career with the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Matthews.
Harris served as treasurer of RIBCA for 10 years. He is the director of the Rick Harris Hoop Skills Basketball Camp, and has worked for the Los Angeles Lakers at their annual summer camp held in Santa Barbara, Calif. since 2000.
Harris earned degrees from CCRI, Rhode Island College and Providence College. In addition to his duties at CCRI, he is a special education teacher in the Cranston School Department.
Harris was born in Providence, R.I. and resides in Cranston with his wife, Lucy, and their two children.

Andy Jackson: Assistant Coach/Strength Coach

Andy Jackson came to CCRI after many years of training some of the top high school and college athletes in Rhode Island. Some of the many athletes who have trained under his guidance include Steve Silva (Holy Cross), Jamie Silva (Boston College), Will Blackmon (Boston College), Soap Toun (Stonehill College) and Joe Mazzulla (West Virginia).

Jackson competed actively in bodybuilding competitions and held the titles of Mr. Eastern America, Mr. Boston and Mr. Rhode Island from 1970-72. In 1990, he finished fourth in the Mr. Rhode Island competition. Jackson graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1970 and received a Technical Arts

degree from Providence Opportunity Industrial Center in 1974.   Jackson has served as a mentor to young people for more than 25 years. He has been involved at the Olneyville Boys Club, Washington Park Community Center and John Hope Settlement House. He also coaches in the Providence Recreation Fall League.
Jackson is a lifelong resident of Providence, R.I.

Sam Hajinian:  Assistant Coach

Sam Hajinian, a former basketball player under Rick Harris at Cranston East High School from 1994-97, is in his second year as an assistant coach of the CCRI men’s basketball program. He played for CCRI under Athletic Director Emeritus Vin Cullen from 1996-1998 and participated in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Delhi, N.Y. He previously coached at the CCRI Basketball School in 1997 and then again in 2007.
In honor of Hajinian’s hard work and positive attitude in high school, Harris established an annual award in his name. The “Sammy Award” is presented to the student-athlete who best displays the desire, dedication and determination that Hajinian exemplified on a daily basis. Hajinian was the Rhode Island Armenian Athlete of the year and earned All-State honors in 1996. He was selected first team All-Division in 1995 and 1996.
Hajinian resides in Cranston with his wife, Zara.

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This page last modified on: November 05, 2009