Harnum Announces Retirement

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University’s Don Harnum has announced he will retire from his current position as the head men’s golf coach. Harnum, who has spent more than three decades at SU, was the Director of Athletics for 24 years at Susquehanna, the head men’s basketball coach for 13 seasons and the head men’s golf coach for 23 years. Susquehanna alum Buddy Yarger ’05 will take over the golf program as head coach.

“My 35 years at Susquehanna have been a joyful experience,” Harnum said. “I have enjoyed the competition tremendously. Being a part of the flourishing growth of SU and the athletic program has been extremely satisfying. The gifts from all of those people around me have been much greater than what I have given to them. Some would say that the relationships with the student-athletes and the faculty and staff are the ‘icing on the cake’ -- for me it has been the cake itself. I never expected golf to become such a huge part of my legacy -- what a treat it has been to have been involved with so many bright and talented young men.”

Harnum spent the last 23 years as the head golf coach at Susquehanna, guiding the program to 12 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships and one Empire 8 title. Under Harnum, the team has earned seven berths into the NCAA Division III Championships.

Until he retired from the roll in 2003, Harnum was also Director of Athletics at SU. During his tenure, Crusader teams won 37 conference championships and sent 11 different programs to NCAA championship competition.

His role as the Director of Athletics was preceded by a 13-year stint as the head men’s basketball coach of the Crusaders, beginning in 1976. Harnum stepped down following the 1988-89 season with an overall record of 201-153. During his time at the helm of the program, Harnum coached his son, Don Harnum Jr. ’86, for two years. Harnum Jr. was later inducted into the SU Sports Hall of Fame for his career as a Crusader.

“Don has been a valued member of the SU community for decades and will truly be missed as a member of our staff,” current Director of Athletics Pam Samuelson said. “What he has accomplished in our golf program goes well beyond the numerous championships that were won. Coach’s legacy will be his special way of teaching so many young men the true values and integrity of sport and instilling in them a respect for golf and a respect for others. Further, he has served as a valued mentor to so many members of our athletic staff. I truly appreciate Coach Harnum’s years of service to SU athletics and am personally grateful for his wisdom and guidance to me as his successor in the role of athletic director.”

Harnum and his late wife, Connie Harnum, were constant presences in the Susquehanna athletic community, as Connie was the head field hockey coach for 27 years (1974-2002) and was also the head coach of the women’s tennis program for 16 years.