Tradition. It is the foundation of success and a powerful source of motivation. Tradition is what  FRANK HAGGERTY '68 inherited when he became head coach of the Crimson in 1982 after the retirement of his former coach, Bill McCurdy. Haggerty serves as just the ninth Harvard track coach since the Crimson began competing in 1874. He is the first, however, to handle the dual assignment of both the men's and the women's programs.

Haggerty came to the position well prepared. As an all-state competitor in the hurdles for Detroit Catholic Central, he made an immediate impact on the Harvard team, setting a freshman record in the 440-yard hurdles. A varsity team member from '65-'68, Haggerty won seven letters in track and field, was a member of two Oxford-Cambridge teams, and was a three time NCAA qualifier in his specialty. He also ran on both indoor and outdoor mile relay record-setting teams.  

After his graduation in 1968, Haggerty served as an assistant coach for two stints (1968-71 and 1978-82) at Harvard. In addition he served as Director of Humanities Curriculum Development at Belmont (MA) High School where he also taught American and Advanced PI cement European History.  His 1972 Belmont track team won the Massachusetts State Championship.

During his first season as head coach for the Crimson, Haggerty's men's team won both the indoor and outdoor Heptagonal Championships. That was followed in 1985 by a second men's indoor championship. He helped guide the women's cross country team to a record five Heptagonal crowns as well as fourth and thirteenth place finishes in the 1983 and 1984 NCAA championships, respectively. His 1989 women's track squad finished ninth in the NCAA outdoor championships - highest ever for an Ivy League school. In 1990, the Harvard women captured both indoor and outdoor Heptagonal Championships. Harvard has produced 27 All-Americans during Haggerty's tenure as Head Coach.

Walter Johnson:

Associate Head Coach, WALTER JOHNSON '71 guides the sprint and hurdle corps. Captain of the 1971 Crimson track squad he excelled in the ' jumps as well as the hurdles. While at Harvard, he also played defensive back on the varsity football team and is a former player and head coach of the Marlboro Shamrocks, a semi-professional team of the Eastern Football League.

Under his guidance many athletes both male and female have achieved individual Heptagonal Championships in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, 400m, mile relay, and 4xl00 relay. They have also set new school records, qualified and participated in the IC4A / ECAC meet as well as the NCAA Championship meet.

Paul Turner:    

PAUL TURNER, Ph.D., serves as coach of the throwing events and the high jump. A 1978 graduate of Western Kentucky University, Turner holds masters degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Indiana University, as well as a doctorate in sport psychology from Indiana. Prior to Harvard, he coached at Indiana University and Western Michigan University. Turner has worked with numerous athletes who have achieved All-American Status, set conference and school records, won national championships, and have competed internationally, including the Olympics. Actively involved with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and United States Track and Field (USATF), he served as an administrator for both the 1996 US Olympic Trials and the Atlanta Olympics. An avid writer, Turner has published various articles on technical aspects of track and field as well as psychological considerations related to high levels of performance.

Jackie Hoover:

Assistant Coach JACKIE HOOVER has the responsibilities of the pole vault, long jump and triple jump. A former heptathlete at Allegheny College,  Hoover graduated in 1997 with a degree in Psychology.  Team captain her junior and senior years, Hoover qualified for nationals in the heptathlon all four years at Allegheny College.  Hoover also holds a Masters degree in Athletic Administration from The College of New Jersey.  While at The College of New Jersey Hoover coached numerous All-American‚s as well as several school record holders.  Prior to her arrival at Harvard, Hoover served as an assistant coach at Clemson University.   She coached the 2000 Indoor ACC Champion in the pole vault, and has helped assist other athletes in attaining NCAA qualifying marks. Hoover has USATF Level I coaching certification and is an experienced clinician