Harbaugh joins former Western athletic and coaching greats Nick Denes, E.A. Diddle, Geri Grigsby, Clem Haskins, Bernard “Peck” Hickman, Ted Hornback, Jimmy Feix, John Oldham, Gene Rhodes and Charles Ruter in earning the distinction. And, WKU alumnus Wes Strader — the “Voice of the Hilltoppers” from 1964-00 — is also member of the state Hall of Fame.
Harbaugh was selected the American Football Coaches Association NCAA I-AA Coach of the Year following the Toppers’ national championship in 2002. He led Western to 10 consecutive wins, the most in one season in school history, including defeating the top three ranked teams in the country in the final rounds of the playoffs en route to a 12-3 finish.
In 14 years at Western, Harbaugh recorded a 91-68 mark while posting a 116-95-3 career record in 19 seasons as a head coach. After the Hilltoppers rejoined the Ohio Valley Conference prior to the 1999 season, Harbaugh had a 22-6 record in league action, leading WKU to the 2000 OVC title and a share of last year’s Gateway Football Conference crown in only the school’s second season in the GFC.
Harbaugh led WKU to seven consecutive winning seasons, four NCAA I-AA playoff berths in the last six years — including three consecutive appearances for the first time in school history — and two conference championships since the turn of the millennium.
He was selected the AFCA Region 3 and OVC Coach of the Year in 2000 after his efforts helped Western to an 11-2 season — WKU’s best since 1975 — an undefeated Ohio Valley Conference championship in the school’s final year in the league and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs. The Hilltoppers were fifth in the final polls, the best finish for a Western squad since the ’80 team also concluded the year fifth in the rankings. Harbaugh finished third in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top coach in I-AA.
The ’97 Toppers were 10-2, earning a berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs and finishing the year ranked number seven in the nation. WKU’s I-Bone offense led the nation in rushing with a school-record 332.0 yards per game. For his efforts, Harbaugh was named the Division I-AA Independents Coach of the Year and was the AFCA’s pick for its I-AA GTE Region 3 Coach of the Year.
In 14 years at the helm of the WKU program, 33 student-athletes earned All-America recognition, including three who were named first- or second-team Academic All-America — Brian Bixler, Patrick Goodman and Brian Lowder.
Harbaugh was inducted with Roy Bowling, Anne Combs, Kenny Davis, Dermontti Dawson, Johnny Meihaus, Van Vance (also a Western alumnus) and Will Wohlford.
