Former NCAA Division I head coach Don Friday enters his fifth season at the helm of Penn State Harrisburg’s men’s basketball program in 2018-19.

During his four-year tenure, Friday has expanded the program’s recruiting reach and amplified its success in one of the top conferences in Division III. Most recently, center Bola Alliyu finished the 2017-18 campaign as the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) leader in blocks per game under his tutelage.  

His first year as head coach coincided with the College’s first season competing in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). Friday led the Lions to wins over a number of renowned mid-state schools including Gettysburg, Lebanon Valley and York (Pa.).  He also led the Blue & White to the program’s first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked team in #14 Christopher Newport. That winter, senior guard Will Doyle became the first student-athlete in school history to earn All-CAC honors.

From 2008-2012, Friday was the head coach at Division I Saint Francis (Pa.). Under Friday’s watch, the Red Flash competed against some of the nation’s most storied programs, including North Carolina, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. During his four-year stint at SFU, Friday led the program to back-to-back Northeast Conference (NEC) playoff appearances in 2010 and 2011.  The 2010 postseason berth was the team’s first since the 2005 campaign.

Prior to his time at Saint Francis, Friday was the head coach at Lycoming from 2003-2008.  In 2004, Friday’s squad won the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship and ranked second in the nation in rebounding amongst Division III teams. He was named the conference’s coach of the year in 2006 and again two years later when he led the Warriors to the 2008 MAC Commonwealth regular-season championship.

Friday also has more than a decade of assistant coaching experience to his credit, including stops at Bucknell from 1994-2003, where he served under legendary head coach Pat Flannery , and Lebanon Valley, his alma mater, from 1989-1994.  Friday was a member of the Flying Dutchmen staff that led LVC to an NCAA Division III National Championship victory over New York University (NYU) in 1994.

He earned his MBA and his Bachelor’s of Science in Management from Lebanon Valley College. He currently resides in Annville, Pa. with his wife, Amy, and son, Donald.