TAKING A YEAR OFF FROM COACHING


This past season Rider advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game for the first time, under coach Don Harnum. Since entering the MAAC -- in Harnum’s rookie season --- eight years ago, the Broncs have never suffered through that proverbial rebuilding phase.

Highly competitive every season, Harnum’s teams have averaged sixteen wins a season and have won two MAAC regular season titles in the last four years.

But now -- unexpectedly -- Harnum’s run of success is over. He will not return to the coach the Broncs for the 2005-06 season.

Just one game from the NCAA tournament this past March, Harnum has another duty in the Rider Athletics Department with the understanding that he can return to his head coaching position for the 2006-07 season.

What?

“It’s a unique situation,” says Harnum. “My first reaction was shock. Not coaching was not something I ever thought about let alone planned for, but a unique situation was presented to me.”

That unique situation was a result of the retirement of Curt Blake as Athletics Director at Rider University. After fourteen years at Rider, Blake’s retirement came as a surprise to many, including Harnum. But almost immediately after learning of Blake’s decision, Harnum was asked to be his replacement.

“Curt called to let me know that he was retiring,” Harnum says. “I wasn’t shocked that he decided to retire, but the timing of it surprised me. But the real surprise came when he informed me that he had recommended me to be his replacement.”

It was early June and Harnum, his wife and two children were vacationing in Myrtle Beach, SC. The sun and sand was cut short and Monday morning Harnum was meeting with school president, Dr. Mordechai Rozanski.

During his phone conversation with Blake, it was apparent that he would not be able to assume dual role of coach and athletics director, a fact that was confirmed by Rozanski who wanted Harnum to focus on the school’s current athletic projects.

The 41-year old Harnum would then spend the next three weeks pondering his situation, before agreeing to step down as head basketball coach and become the interim athletics director for one year, until a full time replacement could be found.

“No matter how many times I thought about the pros and cons, the positives always outweighed the negatives,” says Harnum. The timing of a good opportunity is not always ideal, but the fact is that it’s a great opportunity and one that I just could not pass up.”

Effective immediately, Harnum would turn over control of the men’s basketball program to assistant coach Tom Dempsey.

Harnum was confident that he had made the right choice. It was for the good of the University. Over the past sixteen years (eight as a head coach and eight as an assistant to Kevin Bannon) Harnum had become a part of the Rider family and now he was just being asked to take on a more significant role.

But not everyone was sure that he made correct decision.

What the heck are you doing?

That question -- or similar variations -- filled Harnum’s voice mail, after the change was made public. After catching a glimpse of the headline many others wondered if Harnum was sick or if he were in some sort of trouble. After all, both would be valid explanations for his reassignment.

“It’s unparalleled,” says Harnum of the promise to return to his head coaching duties next season. “In all my years of following sports I have never heard of anything quite like this. It’s different, but more importantly it’s a unique opportunity.”

And when the President asks, it’s advisable to say yes.

Harnum was as surprised as he was humbled by Blake’s strong recommendation to be his replacement. Given the timing, it’s hard to imagine that there was a better candidate then Harnum. Given Harnum’s personality and approach, there is little doubt that it was the best choice.

Rider University is currently in the midst of a three-phase project for athletics. Phase one saw the completion of the 45, 000 square foot student recreation center, which is adjacent to the gym. Phase two, which is scheduled to be completed in September, will connect both buildings, forming one larger facility.

And phase three involves the renovation or possibly the construction of a new basketball facility.

“It’s hard not be excited about the entire project,” says Harnum, “but I am obviously very intrigued about renovation or possible construction of a new basketball arena. Being involved in the day-to-day development operations has been great.”

Ironically, Harnum had previously given thought to one day moving into the administrative facet of college athletics. The idea of becoming an athletic director was something that Harnum thought would be a great opportunity in the future.

But opportunities don’t wait for convenience purposes.

“This is a little earlier then I expected,” says Harnum. “Some people might think that the comfortable thing to do would have been to just remain the basketball coach, but I really like the challenge.”

And he will be back on the sidelines next season.