UPDATED August 6, 2022
E.J. Haralson began his 19th season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Wayne State in the fall of 2021. On November 17, 2021, Haralson was named interim head coach following the retirement of 20-year head coach David Greer.
He guided the Warriors to a 5-17 mark during the 2021-22 campaign as the interim head coach.
During the challenging COVID season of 2020-21, he helped the Warriors claim the GLIAC regular-season title with a 12-5 league mark and advance to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, two student-athletes (Darian Owens-White and Brailen Neely) received NABC All-District honors with Owen-White being a First Team selection. Both Owens-White and Neely were First Team All-GLIAC selections, while Avery Lewis garnered Second Team All-GLIAC recognition as well as All-Defensive Team accolades. WSU head coach David Greer was voted GLIAC Coach of the Year by his peers.
In 2019-20, two Wayne State student-athletes earned All-GLIAC accolades with Neely being voted to the First Team and Karim Murray receiving All-Defensive Team honors. In 17 of the 24 games, Wayne State was leading, tied or trailed by less than five points with under five minutes to play. The Warriors went 2-5 in games decided by three points or fewer, including a trio of overtime games.
With five seniors leading the way, the Warriors won a GLIAC South Division title in 2017-18 and reached the GLIAC Tournament for the second consecutive season. WSU hosted a home playoff game for the seventh time in program history and the first since 2013. Chuck Key was voted to the All-GLIAC First Team, while Marcus Moore earned All-GLIAC Second Team and All-Defensive Team accolades. Ronald Booth also collected All-GLIAC Second Team recognition.
Haralson helped guide the Warriors to a share of the GLIAC North Division title in 2012-13 and an NCAA Tournament appearance. After helping the Warriors to a 22-8 record and the 2011 GLIAC tournament championship, coach Haralson aided WSU's 18-9 mark in 2011-12 even though the squad lost the conference pre-season player of the year six games into the campaign.
Haralson has a hand in just about every aspect of the WSU program. On the court, he works with the guards as well as scouting and recruiting. Off the court, he is responsible for coordinating team and individual camps, organizing community service projects, and helping to monitor the academic progress of the players.
He joined the Warriors' men's basketball program in October 2003. Prior to coaching at Wayne State, he was a coach at Finney High School for four years spending two years as an assistant coach and the last two years as a head coach. As head coach of the Finney Highlanders, Haralson guided his team to the first Public School League title in the schools’ history, as well as a district and regional championship.
Haralson was selected as Detroit Public School League Coach of the Year, and was awarded the FHS Outstanding Achievement Award in 2002-03. Haralson had five of his seniors continue to play basketball on the collegiate level (University of Detroit Mercy, Purdue University, Pittsburg State, and Dodge City Community College).
He began his collegiate playing career at Mott Community College from 1994-96, where he was a National Junior College All-American and MVP of Region XII (Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio). After MCC, Haralson moved on to Detroit Mercy from 1996-98. He was named the team's top newcomer in 1997 and served as a team co-captain during the 1997-98 season. Haralson finished his career at the University of Detroit by helping lead his team to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1979 and advancing to the second round by defeating St. Johns University.
Haralson earned his bachelor's of science degree in computer information systems from the University of Detroit and a master's in sports administration from Wayne State in 2009.
Haralson is married to Tonya (Smoot), a former basketball player at Miami University. E.J. has one son, E.J., who was a member of the WSU men's basketball squad from 2016-2019.
