Mike Harder ’97 was named the Donald F. Vaughan Head Men’s Hockey Coach in June 2023.
Harder makes his return to Colgate after spending six years (2013-2019) as an assistant coach for his alma mater. As a coach for the Raiders, he compiled 89 wins with a pair of ECAC Championship appearances and an NCAA tournament bid. Harder will be formally introduced during a press conference Friday, June 9, at 11 a.m.
Decorated Playing Career
Harder, Colgate’s all-time leading scorer, produced 214 points during his collegiate career. He graduated ranked fourth all-time in goals scored with 88 and second in assists for 126 points. He went on to earn 1997 All-America honors and was a Hobey Baker finalist. As one of the Raiders’ greatest to lace up the skates, Harder was elected to the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008.
One of 13 nominees for the The Hockey Humanitarian Award, Harder led the team in scoring for four straight seasons. A two-time All-ECAC All-Star, he won the Steve Riggs Memorial Award twice for gentlemanly play and a high standard of ability; the Rob Ries Memorial Award once for a player who provides inspiration and leadership; ECAC Merit Medal; and four times was named Colgate’s Best Offensive Player. He was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team in his first season when he led the nation with six shorthanded goals, and Colgate in scoring with 46 points.
Professional Hockey Experience
After earning his degree in international relations, Harder played 13 seasons professionally across North America and Europe. Included were stops in the American Hockey League (AHL) along with European League ventures in Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Italy. He helped Hartford claim the AHL’s Calder Cup in 2000, and was a key figure in a 2004 championship in the German Elite League of Deutsch Eishockey Liga.
Colgate Coaching Career
Harder began his coaching career at Colgate in 2013-14 as a volunteer assistant. He played a key role in the program’s breakout campaign that saw the Raiders ranked 13th nationally in both major polls after advancing to the NCAA tournament as an at-large selection.
After being promoted to assistant coach in July 2014, Harder was instrumental in guiding the Raiders to a 22-12-4 overall mark and an appearance in the title game of the ECAC Hockey Championship for the second consecutive season.
During his time in Hamilton, Harder served five years as the director of recruiting. His first recruiting class led the nation in points and included a Hobey Baker finalist.
Leader, Mentor, Entrepreneur
As the founder and hockey director of Hockey Club Reno Ice, Harder spent the last four years building a program and community from the ground up. He spearheaded the Reno Hockey Academy, a membership-based skills program. Today, the program has over 500 youth players of all age levels, a para ice hockey team, and a semi-pro team.
Looking Ahead
Harder returns to Hamilton as the 15th head men’s hockey coach in program history. He takes over a program coming off its first ECAC Hockey Championship since 1990 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
The 2022-23 Raiders ranked No. 18 in the final USCHO poll of the season under Don Vaughan, who recently announced his retirement being the third longest tenured coach in Division I. In 30 years behind the bench, Vaughan has the most wins in program history (470).
