Ty Harrelson

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Ty Harrelson

| image = 2024-11-09 ALBA Berlin gegen ratiopharm Ulm (Basketball-Bundesliga 2024-25) by Sandro Halank–064.jpg

| caption = Harrelson in 2024

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb =

| position = Head coach

| league = Basketball Bundesliga

| team = Ratiopharm Ulm

| nationality = American / Australian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1980|9|22}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas

| high_school =

Sonora (Sonora, Texas)
Rider (Wichita Falls, Texas)

| college =

Collin County CC (1999–2000)
Cameron (2000–2001)
Wayland Baptist (2001–2003)

| draft_year = 2003

| career_start = 2003

| career_end = 2017, 2022

| career_position = Shooting guard / point guard

| coach_start = 2012

| years1 = 2003–2005

| team1 = Fresno Heat Wave

| years2 = 2005–2006

| team2 = TV Langen

| years3 = 2006–2008

| team3 = BBC Bayreuth

| years4 = 2008

| team4 = Kataja

| years5 = 2008

| team5 = Falco KC Szombathely

| years6 = 2009–2010

| team6 = Giro-Live Ballers Osnabrück

| years7 = 2011

| team7 = Cockburn Cougars

| years8 = 2012

| team8 = Goldfields Giants

| years9 = 2013–2015

| team9 = South West Slammers

| years10 = 2017

| team10 = South West Slammers

| years11 = 2022

| team11 = TV Langen

| cyears1 = 2012

| cteam1 = Goldfields Giants (assistant)

| cyears2 = 2013–2015

| cteam2 = South West Slammers

| cyears3 = 2015–2021

| cteam3 = Wayland Baptist

| cyears4 = 2021–2022

| cteam4 = TV Langen

| cyears5 = 2022–2024

| cteam5 = SC Rasta Vechta

| cyears6 = 2024–present

| cteam6 = Ratiopharm Ulm

| highlights =

As player:

3× SBL All-Star Five (2011–2013)
First-team NAIA All-American (2003)
First-team All-SAC (2003)
Third-team All-SAC (2002)

As coach:

German ProA champion (2023)
2× SBL All-Star Game head coach (2014, 2015)

}}

Ty Gary Harrelson{{Cite web |title=Spielerstatistik Scouting (Saison 2021/2022) - 1. Regionalliga Südwest (Senioren) |url=https://www.basketball-bund.net/statistik.do?reqCode=spielerstatistik&_top=-1&_absolut=0 |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Deutscher Basketball-Bund}} (born September 22, 1980) is an American-Australian basketball coach and former player. He played two years of college basketball for Wayland Baptist before playing the majority of his career in Germany and Australia. He is the current head coach of Ratiopharm Ulm in the German Basketball Bundesliga.

High school and college career

Harrelson grew up as the son of two college basketball players.{{cite web|url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/sports/klbk-sports/where-are-they-now-ty-harrelson/947941041|title=Where Are They Now: Ty Harrelson|work=everythinglubbock.com|date=February 1, 2018|accessdate=August 22, 2018}} He split his high school career at Sonora High School and S. H. Rider High School, finishing with 2,786 career points, which at the time put him 18th on the all-time Texas scoring list.

Harrelson played his freshman college season at Collin County Community College. He spent his sophomore season in the Lone Star Conference at Cameron University before transferring to Wayland Baptist University. In 2001–02, Harrelson helped Wayland Baptist return to the NAIA National Championships for the first time in a decade. In 2002–03, the team posted another 20-win season. Harrelson earned All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors both seasons and was voted Wayland's first-ever NAIA First-Team All-American as a senior. For his two-season WBU career, he scored 1,111 points, tying him for 28th on the Pioneers' all-time points list. As of 2013, Harrelson still held school records for highest assist average in a season (6.8), most assists in a game (15), and best free-throw percentage in a season (88.8).{{cite web |title=Ty Harrelson – 2018–19 Men's Basketball Coaching Staff |url=http://wbuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=710&path=mbball |accessdate=August 22, 2018 |work=Wayland Baptist University}}{{cite web |date=October 11, 2013 |title=Harrelson proud to represent WBU in pro basketball ranks |url=http://wbuathletics.com/news/2013/10/11/MBB_1011132121.aspx?path=mbball |accessdate=August 22, 2018 |work=Wayland Baptist University}}

Professional career

After leaving college, Harrelson had a pre-season stint in Italy with FuturVirtus Castelmaggiore.[http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/09/12/aspettando-soldi-di-madrigali-sabatini-francia-ora.html Aspettando i soldi di Madrigali Sabatini e Francia ora collaborano] {{in lang|it}} He played for the Fresno Heat Wave of the ABA in 2003–04 and 2004–05.{{cite web|last=Boning|first=Carsten|url=https://www.om-online.de/sport/ty-harrelson-mit-ehrgeiz-und-herzblut-in-eine-neue-rasta-aera-127313|title=Ty Harrelson: Mit Ehrgeiz und Herzblut in eine neue Rasta-Ära|work=om-online.de|date=June 27, 2022|access-date=April 5, 2024|language=German}}

In 2005, Harrelson joined German team TV Langen. During the 2005–06 season, he led the 2. Basketball Bundesliga in assists with 5.9 per contest.{{cite web|url=http://www.soonerathletic.org/article/80.php|title=FORMER PIONEER MAKING A BIG NAME FOR HIMSELF IN GERMANY|work=soonerathletic.org|date=December 29, 2006|accessdate=August 22, 2018}} He played for BBC Bayreuth in the 2. Basketball Bundesliga in 2006–07 and 2007–08.{{Cite web|title=Ty Harrelson|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Ty-Harrelson/55711|access-date=April 5, 2024|website=eurobasket.com|url-access=subscription}}

For the 2008–09 season, Harrelson joined Finnish team Kataja. After four games, he joined Hungarian team Falco KC Szombathely. He left Falco in November 2008 after a further four games.

Harrelson returned to Germany for the 2009–10 season and played with Giro-Live Ballers Osnabrück.

In December 2010, Harrelson signed with the Cockburn Cougars of the State Basketball League (SBL) in Australia.[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=14155716 Excitement builds at Cockburn] He was named in the SBL All-Star Five for the 2011 season.[http://basketballwa.asn.au/blog/2011/09/19/bwa-annual-dinner-award-winners/ BWA ANNUAL DINNER – AWARD WINNERS]

In December 2011, Harrelson signed with the Goldfields Giants for the 2012 SBL season.[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=17652955 Giants sign All-Star guard as second import] He served in a dual player-assistant coach role.[https://thewest.com.au/news/south-west/slammers-ty-up-star-in-coach-coup-ng-ya-293049 Slammers Ty up star in coach coup] He was named in the SBL All-Star Five for the second straight year.[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20633667 BWA Annual Dinner – SBL Award Winners]

In October 2012, Harrelson signed a three-year deal with the South West Slammers to be player-coach. He was named in the SBL All-Star Five for the third straight year in 2013.[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=25460009 2013 MSBL All Star Five] In October 2014, he committed to the Slammers for the 2015 season after rejecting an offer from the Goldfields Giants.[https://thewest.com.au/news/south-west/harrelson-slams-brakes-on-giant-rumour-ng-ya-253029 Harrelson slams brakes on Giant rumour][https://www.facebook.com/SouthWestSlammers/photos/a.529668693746852/761474947232891/?type=1&theater Ty Harrelson has re-signed to be player-coach with the Slammers for at least one more season!] He guided the Slammers to the 2015 SBL Grand Final,[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=35788058 Chance of fairy tale now a reality for Slammers and Ty] where they were defeated 105–75 by the Joondalup Wolves.[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-444185-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=35808446 Wolves too good for Slammers to win third men's SBL championship]

In July 2017, Harrelson had a three-game stint with the Slammers.[http://sbl.asn.au/2017/07/08/tigers-slide-past-slammers/ TIGERS SLIDE PAST SLAMMERS][https://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/4784168/slammers-welcome-back-ty-harrelson/ SBL 2017: Ty Harrelson makes a surprise return to the Slammers][https://thewest.com.au/news/south-western-times/ty-to-the-slammers-rescue-ng-b88532840z Ty to the Slammers' rescue]

In April 2022, Harrelson had a three-game stint with TV Langen.

Coaching career

On July 11, 2015, Harrelson was hired as head coach of the Wayland Baptist men's basketball program.{{cite web |date=July 11, 2015 |title=Harrelson returning as men's basketball coach |url=https://wbuathletics.com/news/2015/7/11/MBB_0711155552.aspx |access-date=April 5, 2024 |work=Wayland Baptist University}} Under his guidance, the team reached the NAIA national tournament four times. He left the program in August 2021.{{Cite web|last=Giese|first=Nathan|date=2021-08-16|title=Harrelson resigns as Pioneers head coach|url=https://www.myplainview.com/sports/article/Harrelson-resigns-as-Pioneers-head-coach-16390165.php|access-date=2022-02-26|website=Plainview Herald|language=en-US}}

In December 2021, Harrelson was named head coach of TV Langen of the German Regionalliga.{{Cite web|last=Barth|first=Jürgen|date=2021-12-03|title=Ty Harrelson gibt Trainerdebut bei den Giraffen in Fellbach|url=https://langen-basketball.de/ty-harrelson-gibt-trainerdebut-bei-den-giraffen-in-fellbach/|access-date=2022-02-26|website=Langen Basketball|language=de-DE}}

On June 1, 2022, Harrelson was appointed head coach of SC Rasta Vechta of the German second division, ProA.{{Cite web |title=Rasta Vechta findet neuen Trainer: Ty Harrelson soll den Erfolg zurückbringen |url=https://www.nwzonline.de/plus-sport/vechta-rasta-vechta-findet-neuen-trainer-ty-harrelson-soll-den-erfolg-zurueckbringen_a_51,7,3211124086.html |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Nordwest-Zeitung |language=de}} In June 2023, he led Vechta to the ProA championship{{Cite web |date=2023-06-04 |title=ProA-Meister 2022/2023 – RASTA Vechta |url=https://www.2basketballbundesliga.de/proa-meister-2022-2023-rasta-vechta/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=2. Basketball-Bundesliga |language=de}} after entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=Mit der Vizemeisterschaft in die Erste Bundesliga |url=https://www.tagblatt-anzeiger.de/Nachrichten/Mit-der-Vizemeisterschaft-in-die-Erste-Bundesliga-590674.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Tagblatt-Anzeiger}} By claiming the championship, the team earned promotion to the German top division, Basketball Bundesliga.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-06 |title=Ex-Bayreuther ist Meistermacher in der ProA |url=https://www.fraenkischertag.de/sport/lokalsport-kulmbach/basketball-ex-bayreuther-ty-harrelson-fuehrt-rasta-vechta-in-die-bundesliga-art-262143 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Fränkischer Tag}} As a newcomer to the league in the 2023–24 season, Harrelson and his Vechta outfit reached the play-off quarter final stages. He moved to fellow Bundesliga side Ratiopharm Ulm prior to the 2024–25 campaign.{{Cite web |title=Was Ty Harrelson über seine Zeit bei Rasta Vechta sagt |url=https://www.om-online.de/sport/was-ty-harrelson-ueber-seine-zeit-bei-rasta-vechta-sagt-517428 |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=OM online |date=May 26, 2024 |url-access=subscription}} He led the Ulm squad to the 2025 Bundesliga finals, where they fell short to FC Bayern München.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-26 |title=FC Bayern Basketball is German champion 2025 |url=https://fcbayern.com/basketball/en/games/profis/bbl-playoffs/24-25/f5/report |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=FC Bayern München}} Noa Essengue, one of Harrelson's key players, left to the United States during the finals to attend the NBA Draft{{Cite web |last=Richmann |first=Michael |title=Baden-Württemberg: Ulm kämpft mit Saraf um den Titel, Essengue beim NBA-Draft in New York |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/badenwuerttemberg/swr-ulm-kaempft-mit-saraf-um-den-titel-essengue-beim-nba-draft-in-new-york-100.html |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Tagesschau |language=de}} in which he was picked at number 12 overall by the Chicago Bulls.{{Cite web |title=Bulls draft pick Noa Essengue fits Chicago's goal of playing fast |url=https://bulls.com/news/bulls-draft-pick-noa-essengue-fits-chicagos-goal-of-playing-fast |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Chicago Bulls |language=en}} The same year, a second of Harrelson's players at Ulm, Ben Saraf, was drafted in the first round.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-27 |title=2025 NBA Draft: Where each European prospect was taken |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/2025-nba-draft-where-each-european-prospect-was-taken |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=FIBA}}

Personal life

Harrelson obtained Australian citizenship in 2014.{{cite web|last=Boning|first=Carsten|url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-west/americans-in-bunbury-celebrate-4th-july-ng-ya-273075|title=Americans in Bunbury celebrate 4th July|work=South Western Times|date=July 4, 2013|access-date=April 5, 2024}}{{cite web |date=August 4, 2016 |title=Harrelson's pre-Olympic scouting aids Aussies |url=https://wbuathletics.com/news/2016/8/4/mens-basketball-harrelson-aids-australians-with-pre-olympic-scouting.aspx |access-date=April 5, 2024 |work=Wayland Baptist University}}