Coaching Staff
Associate Head Coach | Clayton Harris
Prior to his time under Jackson, Harris worked 16 years under former Alabama State men’s basketball coach James Oliver. During that time, he was instrumental in the Hornets’ back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and appearances in the postseason National Invitational Tournament in 1983 and the preseason NIT in 1993.
He is also been an integral part of the women’s program to the three NCAA Tournaments, and was instrumental in the recruiting of greats Shameka Jackson, Crystal Kitt and Britney Wright.
Among his duties as an assistant coach, Harris oversees the Lady Hornets’ conditioning, recruiting and scouting programs, and he is charged with seeing that the Lady Hornets are in peak physical shape.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State in 1980, before receiving his master’s degree in education in 1981. He also earned a second master’s degree in administration in 1997.
Throughout his playing days, Harris was a playmaking guard with a deft shooting touch who played during one of the most successful basketball eras in ASU history. During the 1979-80 season, Harris averaged six points per game and helped guide the team to a 32-2 record – the best in school history – and a spot in the NAIA national championship game. During his career with the Hornets, Harris helped ASU compile a 91-24 record.
He is married to the former Brenda Hill of Midway, Ala. They have two children -- Clayton Jr., a former wide receiver for ASU and 2005 ASU graduate, and Britney, a graduate student and a staff member of the ASU Lady Hornets. Harris is the proud grandfather of Kayden Prince (grandson) and Kyleigh Brielle (granddaughter).
Assistant Coach | Yvette McDaniel
Yvette McDaniel is now in her 24th season as an assistant coach at Alabama State, all under current head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.
She played an integral role in Alabama State winning three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships, including back-to-back seasons (2001-02, 2002-03).
In addition to her coaching duties McDaniel handles all aspects of the women’s basketball team day to day operations, road trips, including lodging and meals she also assists with the community service projects. McDaniel is responsible for developing the forwards and centers.
After coming from Kent State University, she earned an associate degree from Gadsden State Community College in 1981 and a bachelor’s in business administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta in 1986.
Yvette is a member of the Women’s Basketball Association and Black Coaches Association. She has one son, Alan Baylor, who is a 2013 graduate of Alabama State University.
Assistant Coach | Courtney Stephens
Courtney R. Stephens is now in his 1st season as an assistant coach at Alabama State under current head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. Stephens a native of Chicago, IL, played two seasons at Kennedy-King College (1995-97) before transferring to Alabama State and playing for then head coach Rob Spivery from 1997-99.
This is Stephens’ second stint as an assistant with Alabama State as he coached under former head coach Lewis Jackson for over a decade from 2000-2013. During his stint as assistant coach, he was a part of five SWAC championship teams (2001, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011).
Among his duties as an assistant coach for the men’s program at Alabama State, Stephens assisted in recruiting prospective student-athletes and scouting programs. He also planned summer basketball camps and community service events while serving as the liaison with academic, financial aid and residential life advisors. Stephens also planned and conducted player strength and conditioning workouts to maintain student fitness, agility, and knowledge of the game and gameplay strategies to ensure program success.
From 1992-1999, Stephens served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve. Stephens re-enlisted to serve in the United States Army Reserve from 2000-06 and was then called to active duty in 2004 where he served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2004-06.
From 2013-21 Stephens served in many capacities within the basketball community. He worked as a certified Youth Development Trainer/Coach at Montgomery Hoops Training Academy through USA Basketball. Stephens also served as the Head Coach of the eighth grade boys basketball team at Floyd Middle Magnet School in Montgomery, AL. During the AAU season Stephens coached with the Montgomery Fire 2022 YBOA/AAU program.
Simultaneously, Stephens was also employed at the Alabama Department of Labor from 2013-19 where he worked with unemployment accounts and recorded payments and debts for claimants and employers. He then served as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist where he provided Veterans with significant barriers to employment individualized career services. From there Stephens continued to serve the Veteran community as he worked for the Veterans Benefit Administration as a Veteran Service Representative, starting in 2019.
Stephens graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Alabama State University in 2000. He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.