Harnden’s opportunity as Auburn head coach a ‘dream come true’ — not just for him, but the athletes who’ve worked closely with him as well
“He’s built so many programs, but never got the credit for it,” Ja’Kobe Tharp said.
Ken Harnden has liked to say that he’s just a bus driver.
For the athletes who win medals under his coaching, he’d say that they did all of the work, and that all he did was drop them off at the meet. He just drove the bus. He just got them to the place.
But look at the Instagram comments after he was named Auburn’s head coach earlier this week, and you’ll see his athletes have flipped that notion upside down:
Harnden is not just a bus driver, they’d say: He’s the bus driver. He’s the driving force behind so much of their success.
“He’s definitely a big mentor in my life,” said Auburn standout hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp, just after Harnden’s introductory press conference Wednesday in Neville Arena. “He’s teaching me to be sound and calm in high-pressure situations. For example, the world record, he was the one that kept me as calm as possible throughout that whole crazy thing that was going on. He definitely means a lot to my process and he’s definitely more of a father figure than a coach, for sure.”
Tharp is forgoing his senior season and has signed a professional contract with Adidas, but attended Harnden’s press conference in a show of support. Tharp is now a full-time pro with the 2028 Los Angeles squarely in sight, but when he asked if he’s still going to call on Harnden as he reaches for lofty goals, Tharp insisted: “He’s going to be my coach until me or him leaves this planet.”
As for Harnden: