Ben Harder '20 joined the New Jersey City University cross country and track & field coaching staff in November of 2022 on a volunteer basis before being officially hired prior to the 2023-24 season. A former distance runner himself, his role with the Gothic Knights is working with the squads' distance runners.
In addition to his role with NJCU, Harder also serves as an assistant cross country coach with Princeton Day School. Previously, he served in the same role with St. Thomas Aquinas High School for two seasons (2020-21) and South River High School (2019, 2022). During his time as a high school assistant cross country coach, he has helped 13 runners earn Division All-Star honors, as well as four earn berths to the Meet of Champions.
As a student-athlete, Harder was a three-year member of the NJCU cross country and track & field program from 2018-21 while earned his undergraduate degree in health sciences in 2020, as well as a master's in educational psychology in 2022. During his time with the Gothic Knights, he was a two-year cross country captain and a member of the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC). Prior to his time at NJCU, Harder attended Middlesex County College, where he earned his associates in 2017 and was a two-year member and captain of the Blue Colts NJCAA cross country and track & field program. His various personal records came in the 5k (17:35) and 8k (29.18) for cross country and as a mid-distance runner on the track, he PRed in the 400m (51.1), 800m (2:05) and mile (4:59) events.
Harder is a 2015 graduate of South River High School and currently resides in his hometown of South River, N.J.
