Online ReporterAUBURN University men’s track and field assistant coach Ken Harnden of Zimbabwe was named as the 2025 Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year, the US track and field and cross-country coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced this week.
Member coaches voted on the honours following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships earlier this month in Virginia Beach, Virginia with performances from the entire season being taken into account.
In his third year at Auburn, Zimbabwean Olympian Harnden coaches the Tigers’ hurdles and sprints.
At the indoor championships, he led the Tigers to third place overall using four scorers on the men’s team to combine for 32 points.
The team’s third place finish was their second consecutive trophy after finishing runners-up at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Six men earned All-America honours after the indoor championships, four of which were first-team distinctions.
First team honours were given to senior Makanakaishe Charamba of Zimbabwe, sophomore Kayinsola Ajayi and Ja’Kobe Tharp and freshman Israel Okon.
Senior Dario Matau and junior Azeem Fahmi were given second team accolades.
Tharp won an individual title in the 60 metre hurdles, breaking his own program record and equalling the number five fastest collegiate time (7.45 seconds).
Ajayi and Okon took silver and bronze in the 60m, respectively. Ajayi crossed the line in 6.513s and Okon in 6.516s.
SEC 200m Indoor Championship, Charamba, finished second overall (20.16s).
At the conclusion of the 2024 outdoor season, Harden was selected as the USTFCCCA national men’s Assistant Coach of the Year and the USTFCCCA South Region men’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
He helped guide the men to the second-place finish at the outdoor championships.
The team’s placement equalled the programme ’s best finish ever. The men scored 40 points, 36 of which, came from his sprinting squad.
Last week, Harnden was named the USTFCCCA South Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year, marking the second time he’s taken home the regional award.
Harnden is a distinguished Olympian, who proudly represented Zimbabwe at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
The former Team Zimbabwe hurdler, who is in his third year at Auburn, is responsible for coaching the Tigers’ sprints and hurdles.
Last season, Harnden was named as the 2024 USTFCCA South Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2024 USTFCCA National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
He helped lead the men to a second place-finish at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships, equalling the best finish in program history.
Of the 40 points that the men earned, 36 came from his unit.
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honoured both gender’s top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches. – auburntigers.com/Zimpapers Sports Hub.
