James Robert Harley, affectionately and professionally known as "Jim" and "Coach", age 90 passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, September 27, 2023 at the Treutlen County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Soperton.  He and his wife had been longtime residents of St. Petersburg, Florida for many years before moving to Soperton in 2016.

Born at home in Sparta, Georgia, he was the son of the late William and Beryl Hightower Harley.  After high school, Jim attended and graduated from Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Georgia before attending Vanderbilt University's Peabody College in Nashville, TN where he earned his Masters Degree in Education.  Having played Basketball throughout school and college; upon graduation he began a long and storied career as a Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.  His story began many years before his first coaching position, back at GA Southern, as an Assistant Coach.  After two years at Southern he accepted the position as Head Coach at Brewton Parker College in Mt. Vernon.  After three years of achievement he moved on to Miami Dade Community College.  After another short three years, Coach Harley, accepted an offer from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg as Head Coach which quickly turned into the position as Athletic Director.  He led the Eckerd College Tritons for thirty nine years before retiring in 2002.  During his career, he led the Tritons to National Tournaments and served not only as a coach but as a mentor to countless young players.  Throughout his career, he was recognized countless times for points of intercollegiate achievement.  But even his 547 career wins paled in what was his most coveted accomplishment; and that was the 97% graduation rate of his players.

Upon retiring and taking those final steps from the court to the locker room, Coach Harley truly left large sneakers to be filled.

He leaves behind his wife, Mary Alice Jones Harley, Soperton, GA, their son, James Robert Harley Jr. (Barbara), Apollo Beach, FL, their daughter, Allison Rose Harley, Brunswick, GA, his sister, Karen Harley Brooks, Atlanta, GA,  sister in law, Shirley J. Sumner, Soperton, GA, a grandson, James Mitchell Harley (Brittney), Riverview, FL, a grand daughter, Allison Marie Harley Barron (Mike), Orlando, FL, three great grand daughters, Blake Noelle Harley, Halstyn Marie Harley and Grace Marie Barron, and a great grandson,  Hawk Jones Barron.

At a later date, he and his wife will be reunited as they are laid to rest.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com

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