AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn men’s track and field assistant coach Ken Harnden was selected as the 2025 Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Monday.
Member coaches voted on the honors following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships earlier this month in Virginia Beach, Virginia. When voting for the awards, performances from the entire season were taken into account.
In his third year at Auburn, 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 its second consecutive trophy after finishing runner up at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Six men earned All-America honors after the indoor championships, four of which were first-team distinctions. First team honors were given to senior Makanakaishe Charamba, 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 60m hurdles, breaking his own program record and equaling the No. 5 fastest collegiate time (7.45).
Ajayi and Okon took silver and bronze in the 60m, respectively. Ajayi crossed the line in 6.513 and Okon in 6.516.
SEC 200m Indoor Championship, Charamba, finished second overall (20.16).
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 equaled the program’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.
For a full list of the 2025 USTFCCCA national winners, visit here.