BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University Women's Head Basketball Head Coach Cheri Harrer is the second winningest women's coach in Ohio Athletic Conference basketball history. She has spent her entire teaching and coaching career dedicated to the academic and athletic success of her student-athletes. On May 20 in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame will honor Harrer for her dedication, contribution and accomplishments when she is inducted to the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame at a dinner and induction ceremony.

"We are extremely pleased for Cheri, her basketball program and our university," said Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz. "Cheri is an outstanding teacher and coach and an even better person. She really cares deeply for her student-athletes and she works very hard to make sure they are successful at BW and after they graduate."

Harrer recently completed her 27th season and has led the Yellow Jacket program to 25 straight winning seasons and to be be regarded among the elite in NCAA Division III. Thirteen of her teams have appeared in the NCAA Div. III national tourney. She has compiled a 549-202 career record with a .731 winning percentage. Her teams have an amazing 24 straight seasons of 15 or more wins and 15 with 20 victories or more. She led the program to a school-record 28 victories and a 28-2 mark in 1999-2000 when BW advanced to the "Elite 8" of the Division III national tournament.

"This obviously is an honor bestowed upon BW and our players past and present more than anything," said a modest Harrer. "BW has allowed me the chance to build the program. Of course the players deserve the most credit. They believed in what we were trying to accomplish both academically and athletically and sacrificed tremendously to achieve success. I was the lucky one to get to coach them." 

"It's a tremendous honor to be chosen for membership in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame," said Harrer. "It's hard to imagine myself being in the same category with many of the outstanding coaches already chosen."

Every year, Harrer's team is in the hunt for both an OAC regular season and OAC Tournament title as well as a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Her teams have won eight OAC regular season championships and captured six OAC Tournament titles. BW has advanced to the "Elite 8" of the NCAA Division III National Tournament four times and the "Sweet 16" five times.

Harrer came to Berea and BW with five years of intercollegiate coaching experience at Bowling Green State University, Bluffton University and her alma mater the University of Findlay. While earning her degree in math education at Findlay, Harrer was a four-year starter and an NAIA Academic All-American in basketball. As a point guard, she led Findlay to conference, district, and bi-district championships. Harrer lettered two years in volleyball and three years in track.

In addition to coaching basketball at BW, Harrer serves as the Senior Women's Administrator and is an associate professor in the Division of Health and Physical Education. She was inducted into the Crawford County Hall of Fame in 2014.