Lance Harden enters his first year as the head men’s and women’s cross coach for the 2024 season after being hired in January of 2024.
During Harden’s first indoor and outdoor seasons with the Bridgewater Eagles harriers, his impact was felt immediately as the distance squad saw impressive improvements and successes.
In his first two seasons Harden’s distance athletes produced 1 ODAC individual champion in Emily Smeds in the 3k Steeple Chase, and 8 total All-ODAC selections across indoor and outdoor track and field. Harden’s athletes also claimed 4 USTFCCCA All-South honors and set two new school records in the indoor women’s mile and the outdoor women’s 10k. Additionally the distance runners added 16 new marks to the Bridgewater indoor and outdoor all-time top 10 lists.
Harden previously served as the head coach of the Stevens Institute of Technology's cross country and track & field programs beginning in 2018. While with the Ducks, Harden guided Gina Dello Russo to a national championship in the 400-meter dash at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships. He was also named the 2020 Middle Atlantic Conference Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year. During his time in New Jersey, he coached student-athletes to 32 school records, three MAC championship records and six MAC all-time records and guided 12 total NCAA Championship qualifiers. Harden also served as the Metro Region representative for the NCAA Division III Track & Field and Cross Country Committee.
Before coming to Stevens, Harden was an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Emory University, Williams College and his alma mater, Davidson College.
With Emory, he helped coach the team to four consecutive NCAA national championship berths and coached a pair of teams to South/Southeast Regional championships. Harden was named the 2016 USTFCCCA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year.
While at Williams, Harden was a vital part of the cross country programs making six national championship appearances with both teams finishing within the top 12 in all appearances and the women's program garnering a pair of podium finishes in the team standings.
Harden's coaching career has seen a total of 29 NCAA All-Americans (cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field).
Harden is a graduate of Davidson College where he earned a degree in philosophy. He was a member of the cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field programs where he set several school records during his time as a student-athlete. Harden graduated from the school with records in the 8K (cross country), 3,000-meter run (indoor), 5,000-meter run (indoor) and as part of the 4x1500m relay team (outdoor). In addition, Harden won one Southern Conference individual championships in track & field and claimed eight overall First Team All-Southern Conference honors.
He has Level 2 USA Track and Field coaching certifications in the endurance events and throws.
