Central Arizona College Cross Country Coach Named to Hall of Fame
By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing
Central Arizona College head men’s and women’s cross country coach, Jonathan Harmon, was recently inducted into the 2024 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.
Coach Harmon was a student at CAC from 2003-05, running both cross country and track for the Vaqueros. Following graduation, he ran for the University of North Carolina at Asheville where he received his undergraduate degree.
The start of Harmon’s coaching career was at Holbrook High School, his alma mater. He also served as an assistant coach in track and field for the junior high girls and boys that same year.
Now retired head coach Paul Tavares, offered Harmon a position at CAC. He was the assistant coach for nine years and upon Tavares’ retirement he became the head coach. Coach Harmon stated, “The offer to coach for the school/program that provided me so much was so enticing that I overlooked the fact that I would be doing it for 10 years on a small stipend. I always wanted to be a coach in some capacity but never would imagine I would be coaching the Vaqueros and Vaqueras of CAC. Coaching is a dream come true!”
The North American Indigenous Athletics organization is the first organization to honor Native American and Indigenous people in athletics. Harmon is recognized for coaching over 50 Native American Athletes from various tribes and helping them to succeed in their running and educational pursuits.
About his acceptance into the Hall of Fame, Harmon explained, “It is a great honor and to be honest I feel that it may be a little too much to handle. I was raised to be humble and let your work speak for itself and to not expect rewards or gratitude. I feel blessed to be a part of great company of former Native American coaches, programs, and athletes as a hall of fame inductee.” He added, “I would like to thank God because without his grace and mercy I have no idea what path I would be on at this moment. Coaching is a blessing. Although the hours are extensive and the body is tired, there is no better feeling in the world than to see your student-athletes graduate college and aim to be productive members of society.”
Coach Harmon’s goal is to continue striving for academic and athletic success for all the student athletes at CAC. He hopes to ultimately bring a national championship home to CAC.