Men's Basketball
Coaching Staff
Chris Harvey, Head Coach
 Somerville native Chris Harvey, who served as an assistant coach at Tufts University and head coach at Lasell College, has been named the 18th head coach of the SSC men's basketball program. Harvey will also fill the role of compliance coordinator for all of SSC's student athletes. Harvey replaces Sean Doherty, who, after four seasons, departed in April to accept an assistant men's basketball coaching position at Quinnipiac University.
"Chris is well known in New England basketball circles after his tremendous success at Lasell College," said SSC athletic director Tim Shea. "He is a proven recruiter and the perfect fit for our program."
Harvey, who has nine years of college coaching experience with five as a head coach, directed Lasell to three straight NCAA D-3 tournament appearances while being chosen North Atlantic Coach of the Year each season. Harvey averaged over 20 wins a season while guiding the Lazers to a program record 25 wins in 2003-04 and an ECAC tourney bid in 2005.
Harvey's record of 104-36 (.743) ranks him in a tie for seventh among the winningest active coaches at the NCAA D-3 level with a minimum of five years experience as a head coach. The past two seasons Harvey served as an assistant coach at Tufts helping the Jumbos achieve a single season record 23 victories and NCAA Sweet 16 tournament appearance.
"Salem State has always been my dream job," said Harvey. "The only thing missing from the men's basketball trophy case is a national championship. I want to be a part of bringing that to the college. It's an honor for me to be a part of the tradition of excellence that has been built at Salem State."
Harvey, a 1994 graduate of Worcester State College, received his masters of education in 1998 from Boston University. He began his college coaching career in 1998 at Lasell as an associate head coach for two seasons before taking over as head coach in 2000.
John Bowler, Assistant Coach
John Bowler is currently in his fourth year as a Salem State College men's basketball assistant coach. John is a 1998 graduate of Worcester State College where he was a four-year member and three-time team captain in the men's basketball program.
Bowler, who played guard, produced an outstanding collegiate career, pouring in 1,483 points which places him eighth among the Lancer's all-time leading scorers. He is the school record holder in three-pointers made (73), most assists in a game (12), most assists in a season (164) and most assists in a career (465).
Bowler, who was selected a first team Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) all-star and chosen WSC's Outstanding Male Athlete his senior year, was inducted into the WSC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Bowler, who was voted a second team All-MASCAC performer as a sophomore and junior, has worked at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club as a physical education director since 1998.
Kevin Bettencourt, Assistant Coach
 Kevin Bettencourt is currently in his first year as a Salem State College men's basketball assistant coach. Kevin is a 2006 graduate of Bucknell University where he was a four-year member of the men's basketball program. Bettencourt, a native of Peabody and Peabody High School's all-time leading scorer, was a two-time team captain and four-time Patriot League all-star while starring at Bucknell.
Bettencourt graduated from Bucknell as the program's all-time record holder for three-pointers made in a career (294), a season (79) and a game (11). He is also BU's fourth all-time leading scorer (1,577). He is the Patriot League's second all-time three-point scorer. Bettencourt began his collegiate career with a bang earning PL Rookie of the Year honors as well as being selected all-league.
Bettencourt, who was chosen Chevrolet Player of the Game after the Bisons stunned the University of Kansas in 2005 and the University of Arkansas in 2006 in first round NCAA tournament games, was cited with the Bison Club Award his senior year for exemplary accomplishments and commitment to Bucknell University athletics.
Nkrumah Jones, Assistant Coach
 Nkrumah Jones is currently in his first year as a Salem State College men's basketball assistant coach. Nkrumah was an assistant coach at the high school level in the Greater Boston area for 10 years prior to joining the SSC staff.
Jones, who played at Bunker Hill Community College and served as a team captain his senior year, coached at Revere, Cambridge Rindge & Latin and North Cambridge Catholic High Schools. Jones is a fixture at Eastern Invitational Basketball Camps. He works numerous camps and clinics throughout the year, providing instruction to many of the country's top high school student-athletes.
Jones is currently the director of the Reaching Youth Through Sports and Education (RYSE) program which is an organization based in Cambridge. Jones is a 2003 Salem State College graduate who earned degree in Business Administration-Finance.
Contact Info
Chris Harvey, Head Coach
Phone: 978-542-6564
Email: charvey@salemstate.edu
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