One of the most highly respected high school basketball coaches in the State of Florida, Harry Elifson has established himself as one of the top collegiate assistant coaches in America as he begins his sixth year at USF and his third as associate head coach.
Elifson, who made a name for himself developing young talent at the scholastic level and sending several on to major Division I institutions, has surpassed that reputation while recruiting some of the same blue chip talent that he nurtured prior to his position with the Bulls.
In his previous five seasons with USF, Elifson has helped the Bulls secure top 40 classes three times, which includes the 2003-04 freshmen class - ranked 33rd in the country by the All-Star Girls Report - that featured Conference USA Freshman of the Year Jessica Dickson, All-Freshman selection Nalini Miller, and arguably the Bulls' top defensive stopper Rachael Sheats. That 33rd-ranked class, which also included junior college transfers Anedra Gilmore, who finished her two-year career at USF with a remarkable 365 assists in 61 games, and Rae Rae Sayles, was the highest ranked class in program history.
Elifson, a native of Clinton, IA, came to USF from St. Petersburg's Boca Ciega High School where he served as head girl's basketball coach from 1989-00. Prior to his tenure at Boca Ciega, the Pirates had won just three games the previous season. After building a solid foundation that started to win on a regular basis, Elifson led the Pirates to their first ever 5A District Championship during the 1992-93 season.
With that title, Boca Ciega would regain its powerhouse status in the state of Florida, but also established them nationwide as well. Under Elifson's tutelage the St. Petersburg school would go on to win six more district championships (1994-99), was a three-time 5A Regional Champion (1995, 1997, and 1999), and finished as runner-up from 1994-96 and 1997-98.
Elifson, however, would put an exclamation point on his building project winning back-to-back 5A state titles (1994-96), with his 1995-96 team - arguably his best ever - finishing ranked 18th in the nation in the final USA Today girls high school basketball poll. Boca Ciega would also finish the 1998-99 season by making its third appearance to the state semifinals in five years.
A highly decorated coach, Elifson was named girls high school basketball Coach of the Year by the St. Petersburg Times following the 1994-95 campaign and was a two-time selection as Coach of the Year (1994-96) by the Tampa Tribune. In addition, Elifson was tabbed the 1997 National High School Coaches Association Region III Coach of the Year and was one of seven finalists that season for the associations National Coach of the Year Award.
Elifson was also a four-time recipient of the Pinellas County Coach of the Year Award (1993, 1995-97) and following the 1995-96 season earned both the Florida 5A Coach of the Year Award and the Florida Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award.
Elifson would end his 11-year career at Boca Ciega with an impressive 234-87 (.729) record.
A 1986 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa - where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education - Elifson started his coaching and teaching career at Holy Family School in St. Petersburg where he taught physical education to children in grades K-8. He also coached middle school volleyball, basketball, track, and softball.
In addition to his duties at Holy Family, Elifson also served three years (1986-89) at St. Petersburg Catholic High School where he was head junior varsity boy's basketball (1987-88) coach and assistant football coach during his three years with the Barons.
A highly sought after lecturer, Elifson has been a guest speaker at the National High School Coaches Convention and the Florida Coaches Association Basketball Clinic.
