By Zim Sport Live Writer
Former Zimbabwe Olympic hurdler Ken Harnden says he is “incredibly grateful” after being entrusted with one of the biggest coaching jobs in American collegiate athletics following his promotion to head coach of Auburn University’s track and field programme.
Auburn announced Harnden’s elevation on Monday, rewarding the Zimbabwean coaching legend after four transformative seasons as assistant head coach in which he established the Tigers as one of the dominant sprint programmes in the NCAA.
While the appointment marks another milestone in Harnden’s remarkable coaching career, the 52-year-old chose to focus on gratitude and the values that have guided his journey rather than his long list of achievements.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Auburn track and field program and want to thank Athletic Director John Cohen, President Roberts, and the Auburn administration for their trust and support,” Harnden said.
Harnden, a two-time Olympian for Zimbabwe in the 400m hurdles, inherits the programme after serving as Auburn’s sprint coach since 2022, a period in which he collected four consecutive USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year awards and helped the Tigers become a national powerhouse.
His influence has extended far beyond medals. Under his guidance, Auburn sprinters have won six individual NCAA titles, two relay national championships and six SEC crowns, with Harnden-coached athletes accounting for an astonishing 161 of the men’s 168 points scored by the university at NCAA indoor and outdoor championships over the past four years.
This year’s achievements further cemented his reputation as one of the world’s leading sprint coaches.
Harnden guided American hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp to a historic 110m hurdles world record of 12.75 seconds at the NCAA Championships — the first world record set at the championships in 50 years. He also coached Nigerian sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi to NCAA indoor and outdoor sprint titles, while Zimbabwean Olympian Makanakaishe Charamba has flourished under his mentorship, helping Auburn win back-to-back NCAA 4x100m relay titles and progressing into one of Africa’s leading sprinters.
Despite the success, Harnden believes sustained excellence is built on culture and teamwork.
“I have always believed in surrounding yourself with great people. People who are committed to hard work, the selfless pursuit of dreams and competing to win,” he said.
“If you trust the person next to you, trust your training, be part of something bigger than you, and do the hard things, it will resonate for the rest of your life.”
Harnden takes over Auburn with an extraordinary coaching résumé spanning 23 years in NCAA Division I athletics.
Over that period, he has coached 24 Olympians, guided athletes to 31 individual NCAA championships, four relay national titles and more than 200 First-Team All-America honours, while contributing to five NCAA team championships.
Among the star studded group is Walter Dix, a six-time NCAA champion and 18-time All-American for Florida State. He was a bronze medalist in the 100m and 200m at the 2008 Olympics and remains the NCAA record holder in the 200m (19.69).
Harnden also coached 2011 Bowerman Award winner Ngoni Makusha, who became the fifth man in NCAA history to win the 100m and long jump at the same championship. Makusha also set the then-NCAA record in the 100m (9.89).
Long before becoming one of America’s most respected coaches, Harnden was one of Zimbabwe’s finest athletes.
He represented the country at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in the 400m hurdles, reached two World Championships finals and still holds Zimbabwe’s national record of 48.05 seconds in the event.
His coaching legacy also includes mentoring former Zimbabwe Olympic sprinter and long jump star Ngonidzashe Makusha, who won the prestigious Bowerman Award in 2011 after producing one of the greatest seasons in NCAA history.
Now, Harnden begins a new chapter as the man in charge at Auburn, with the Zimbabwean set to lead one of the premier programmes in world collegiate athletics while continuing to shape the careers of some of the sport’s brightest talents.