Tennessee Preparatory Academy

 

Coach Harold Rayford Jr. is definitely someone in the basketball coaching industry to know. Let me tell you why. First of all, he hails from NEW YORK, therefore he has a tenacity and drive far beyond most. He is a wealth of knowledge and has studied the game of  basketball almost his whole life. Legacy sake, Coach Harold Rayford is continuing what was started by his father Harold Rayford Sr. The Rayford family is well known for basketball in the City of Newburgh.

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Harold Rayford Jr. is the founder father of Tennessee Preparatory Academy (Memphis, TN). From 2015- Present, Coach Rayford has put 150+ student athletes in Colleges & Universities all across the United States of America. 

In 2018, Coach Rayford won his 2nd National Championship (The USA National Prep Championship) which featured many young stars such as Damion Baugh (University of Memphis), Antavion Collum (University of Mississippi), Tyrese Patterson (Navarro College, TX).

 

Coach Rayford inaugural year with Tennessee Prreparatory Academy was in 2015-2016. He  helped guided Tennessee Preparatory Academy to it's first National Championship (National  Athletic Christian  Association- NACA) which featured starred Tahj Eaddy (Southeast Missouri State/ Santa Clara University) Jordan Giles (University of Missouri Kansas City)  Romani Hansen (Independence College/ University of Albany), Shandon "Biggie" Goldman (Little Rock / University of Northern Iowa)  

 

Coach Rayford has spent 2014-2015 as the Head Coach of Concord Prep Academy (Concord, NC). He was also an integral part of recruiting all players. Under Coach Rayford’s leadership Concord Prep Academy finished their first season with an overall record of 30-8. Coach Rayford coached Donovan Fields (Cal Poly), Jakwan Jones (Quinnapac/ Flordia Southern) Luqman Lundy  (Bradley University) Christopher Efretuei (Louisiana Monroe University), Jalen Jackson (LeMonye Owen College),

Eric McCollum (Oklahoma City University).

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Coach Harold Rayford spent the 2013-2014 year teaching Students with Special Needs at BREC Academy in Petersburg, VA. Coach Rayford developed the Boys’ Basketball Program and build partnerships to help support the program.

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During the 2012-2013 season, Coach Rayford was an Assistant Coach at Norfolk State University under the leadership of Anthony Evans (Head Coach at Florida International University). During the season The NSU Spartans went 21-12 overall record. NSU Spartans out right won the MEAC Regular Season Championship going 16-0 in the conference and making history at Norfolk State going undefeated for the first time ever. The Spartans earn an automatic bid to the NIT Tournament.

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From 2009-2012 Coach Rayford was the Head Coach at SUNY Ulster County Community College in Stone-Ridge, N.Y. Rayford guided the Senators to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 15 semifinals in his last season in 2011-12. It marked the first time SUNY Ulster advanced that far in the playoffs. During the 2007 season, Rayford served as an Assistant Coach with the Hudson Valley Hawks in the National Professional Basketball League when the Hawks won the NPBL National Championship with a 13-2 record. His duties as an assistant included scouting opponents as well as recruiting and scouting professional talent, coordinating practices and travel, and planning and evaluating player development. Rayford spent the 2006-07 season as the assistant junior boys’ varsity coach at his alma mater, Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, N.Y. During his one season with the Goldbacks, he helped lead them to an 18-1 overall record.

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Coach Rayford is a former college basketball player and Virginia State graduate. He originally got his coaching start while leading his hometown Newburgh Zion Lions club team from 2000-08, directing the squad to NYS Metropolitan AAU Regional Championships in 2005, '06 and '07.  Rayford was a part of the Norfolk State men's basketball program for the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach. He came to NSU after spending three seasons there.

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Rayford's experience also includes working different camps, including the New York Knicks Summer Camp, the Bill Bayno Summer Camp, and the NBA Hoop It Up tournament. Prior to his stint at SUNY Ulster, Rayford served as an intern at Virginia State under the assistant athletic director during 2008-09 school years while finishing up his degree.

 

• Rayford graduated from VSU in May 2009 with a bachelor in health and physical education after earning his associate's degree in liberal arts from SUNY Ulster in May 2006.

• Harold Rayford completed his Teaching Certificate at Virginia Union University.

Graduated from:

• SUNY Ulster County Community College (2006) A.S Degree in Liberal Arts & Science

• Virginia State University (2009) B.S Degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.

• Virginia Union University (2013) Teaching Certification; Students with Special Needs.