Emory University head coach John Curtin  has announced the appointment of Lance Harden as assistant cross country and track and field coach.  Harden will begin his duties on August 1.

Harden joins the Eagles’ program after a three-year stint (2011-14) as assistant cross country and distance coach at Williams College (MA).  During that period, Harden played a role in producing six NESCAC Team titles (four cross country, two track and field), six New England Regional Championships (three cross country, two indoor track and field, one outdoor track and field), 19 All-Americans, and seven Williams’ school records.  He was on the 2014 NESCAC Women’s Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year.  

Prior to Williams, Harden served as a volunteer assistant coach of men’s cross country and track at Davidson College (2010-11), where he helped the Wildcats place fourth in cross country with the #1, #2, #5 and #9 fastest 8K runners in school history and in track, breaking seven school records, achieve nine All-Southern Conference awards, and win SoCon individual titles in the 800m and 1500m.

Lance Harden

“All of us with Emory Track and Cross Country are thrilled that Lance Harden has accepted our position as Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach,” Curtin stated.  “Lance is a bright and personable guy who connected with everyone when he came to campus.  His combination of championship-caliber experience both as a runner at Davidson College and as an assistant coach at Williams College make him a great fit for the team we are building here at Emory.” 

As a student-athlete at Davidson, Harden was an eight-time First Team All-Southern Conference performer while competing in cross country and indoor and outdoor track, and was the league’s 10,000-meter champion in 2009.  By the time his career had concluded, he owned four school records.

“I want to thank John Curtin and Tim Downes for giving me the opportunity to coach at one of the nation's premier research universities,” Harden said.  “The team has already enjoyed success at the regional level, and I'm excited to continue building the program into a contender on the conference and national stage.  We've got a great group of young men assembled, and they're hungry to take the next step as a team.” 

Harden is certified USATF Level I and will become Level II certified this summer.

A native of Pittsboro, NC, Harden graduated from the Davidson College in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.