Following a national search, Fordham University has announced that a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate will become its new head women’s basketball coach, taking the reins of the school’s 55-year-old program.
Sport coaching graduate Neil Harrow joins Fordham after a standout season at Long Island University, where he orchestrated a 20-win season in his debut year as head coach. His arrival at Rose Hill follows a decorated coaching career, including a successful stint as the associate head coach at James Madison University from 2022 to 2025
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead Fordham women’s basketball,” said Neil. “I want to sincerely thank President Tetlow and Athletic Director Charles Guthrie for their faith in me.
It was clear from the start that everyone in the department and on campus is aligned in their philosophy and vision, and that was really important for me. To remain in the best city in the world, and recruit to this storied institution, is a true honour. I’m excited to get to work and build success in the Atlantic 10!”
A native of East Kilbride, Scotland, Neil graduated from the BSc Sport Coaching degree at UWS in 2010 and was one of the founding members of Basketball at the Lanarkshire campus. He was inducted in to the UWS Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
Neil said in an alumni interview in 2022: “I am proud to have been one of the people to get the basketball team going at UWS. We were just a bunch of guys who weren’t scared to put ourselves out there and start something new. We hoped to have fun, represent the university well, and let it grow over time into something better. I think we achieved all 3.”
Read more: UWS graduate helps Troy University Women’s Basketball Team win the Championship.
Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham said of his appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Neil Harrow to the Bronx, where he will lead a program that honors both the brilliance of our student-athletes and the fearlessness they show on the court.”
Neil experienced tremendous success in his first season as a head coach at LIU in 2025-26, leading the Sharks to a 21-11 overall record, 14-4 in the NEC, setting a program record for most wins by a first-year head coach. He guided LIU to the NEC Championship game, LIU’s first appearance in the title game since the 2009-2010 season.
In three seasons as the associate head coach at James Madison (2022-2025), Neil helped the Dukes to three Sun Belt Conference championships and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
In the summer of 2024, he briefly left JMU to join the Los Angeles Sparks as an assistant coach where he worked with four Olympians and one WNBA all-star. Neil’s other WNBA experience includes stints as an advanced scout with the Sparks and the Connecticut Sun from 2020-2023.
He also served as assistant coach at Troy University (2015-2022) where he helped the Trojans to five Sun Belt crowns and four NCAA Tournament berths. He also spent two seasons at Valdosta State University as a graduate assistant (2013-2015).
Find out more about Sport Coaching & Development degree at UWS: https://www.uws.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-course-search/sport-coaching-development/