SELINSGROVE, PA – Longtime Susquehanna University director of athletics Don Harnum has announced that he will retire this summer after 24 years at the helm of the Crusader athletic department.

A national search will begin this spring for his successor as director of athletics, though Harnum will remain head coach of the Crusaders’ highly successful men’s golf program which has won eight consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference team championships.

Harnum, 63, succeeded Jim Hazlett as acting director of athletics in 1978 and assumed the position permanently in the spring of 1979. He has overseen the growth of Crusader athletics from 16 varsity sports in 1980 to 23 in 2003, and during his tenure Susquehanna teams have won 37 conference championships while 11 different programs have sent participants to NCAA competition.

Harnum helped guide the athletics department through the renovation and expansion of the campus’s athletic facilities from 1999 to 2002, including the construction of Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium, the field house and the Clyde H. Jacobs Fitness Center as part of the James W. Garrett Sports Complex.

“We are all indebted to Don Harnum for nearly a quarter-century of service as our director of athletics,” said university president Dr. L. Jay Lemons. “The tremendous growth and success of our student-athletes, teams and facilities reflect the dedication and commitment that Don has made to this university and to our athletics program.”

A native of Brewer, Maine, Harnum is a 1961 graduate of the University of Maine with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He played both varsity football and basketball for the Black Bears, earning three letters in both sports and earning second-team All-Yankee Conference honors in football in 1961.

After earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Delaware in 1964, he served two years in the United States Army and earned honorable discharge as a first lieutenant. Harnum then coached freshman basketball and lacrosse at Delaware before being named head men’s basketball coach at Susquehanna in 1969. He compiled a 23-23 record in two seasons before returning to Delaware as head men’s basketball coach in 1971.

Following five seasons as head coach of the Blue Hens and a 69-57 record, Harnum returned to Susquehanna in 1976 and coached 12 more seasons with the Crusaders before stepping down following the 1988-89 season with a record of 201-153 in 14 years as Susquehanna’s head coach.

Since 1989, Harnum has served as the Susquehanna head men’s golf coach and has led the Crusaders to nine Middle Atlantic Conference championships – including each of the last eight – and guided the program to five trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Harnum has been active in the administration of the Middle Atlantic Conference, serving as conference president for two years and as chair of the men’s basketball and golf sport committees. He is currently regional selection chair for the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships.

Harnum’s wife, Connie, recently announced her retirement as head field hockey coach after 27 seasons with the Crusaders. The couple plans to remain in the Selinsgrove area.