ANN ARBOR – One of the greatest coaches in Michigan history had this to say about Greg Harden: “He’s one of the greatest coaches in Michigan history.”

Carol Hutchins, college softball’s all-time winningest coach, was among the many speakers at Harden’s memorial service at the Crisler Center on Thursday. They celebrated a man who pushed others to be the best versions of themselves and made everyone he met feel like the most important person in the world.

Harden died on September 12, at the age of 75, due to complications that occurred immediately after heart surgery.

Harden, a Detroit native and Michigan graduate, began working for Michigan athletics in 1986, eventually becoming the assistant athletic director for athletic advising. Although he retired from this full-time role in 2020, he continued to mentor athletes and coaches.

People who knew Harden from various times and places in his life attended the ceremonies Thursday, with local sports radio host Sam Webb officiating. spoke for three hoursMany admitted that they had no intention of staying within their allotted three-minute time limit.

Speakers talked about his interest in comics, dance and kung fu. Childhood friend Lee Robertson recalled Harden drinking goat’s milk, lifting weights and practicing martial arts. He said he never talked about Harden’s success on the track, but that it earned him a scholarship to Michigan.

College friend Dave Rob would visit Harden in his East Quad dorm and had no trouble finding his friend. “He was a Pied Piper,” Rob said. It was difficult to get anywhere with Harden because so many classmates stopped him to greet him. “He was so accepting of everyone.”

Aidoo Osei, one of Harden’s advisors at the Michigan Office of Minority Engineering Programs, recalled the time he spent at Harden’s home. “We would go down to the basement and he had the pool table and he was known to run the court,” Osei said. “Class was in session.” Harden had four rules for the guests: They must be moral and honest; they would take care of their bodies and minds (no 40-ouncers); no complaints; They were watching kung fu movies, one of Harden’s pastimes, along with comics and dancing.

Michigan lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist highlighted some messages Harden stated the following in the book he wrote and published last year:: not letting others determine how you perceive yourself; setting a purpose in life and defining success; Avoid self-defeating attitudes and behaviors.

When Michigan president Santo Ono met Harden for the first time, Harden put his hands on Ono’s shoulders. “It was like looking into my soul,” Ono said. Ono said Harden showed “true empathy.”

Harden rose to national fame by contributing to the athletic success of superstars such as Tom Brady, Desmond Howard and Michael Phelps. Brady, who had a prior commitment out of the country, appeared via a pre-recorded video. “You influenced me in the best way possible at a time when I needed it most,” he said.

Howard was a “frustrated, angry and disgruntled” player at the start of his Michigan football career. He visited Harden to explain the possibility of a transfer. “I think it would be a good idea to transfer,” Howard recalled Harden saying. “Looks like you’ve already figured out the fantasy that things will magically get better at another school and you’ll be a star.”

On his way back to his dorm, Howard rethought the issue, thanks to Harden’s “genius methodology.” He stayed at Michigan and won the Heisman Trophy. “Greg Harden was the most influential person in Michigan athletics,” Howard said.

Hutchins, Michigan’s softball coach from 1985 to 2022, made it clear that Harden has influenced athletes and coaches beyond the big names. At first, she wasn’t sure about the man who worked on “touchy-feely-emotional stuff” in the athletic department, but she needed just one meeting with him to benefit from his tough-love approach.

Harden’s son Brian believes divine intervention allowed him to spend one last weekend with his father. This summer, he called his father to say he wanted to attend Michigan’s football game against USC on Sept. 21. That was the plan until Brian realized he and his wife had booked something else. He moved his visit to the Texas game two weeks ago. The week of the game, Greg called him and told him he was going to have quadruple bypass surgery. Three days after the procedure, Harden passed away.

His widow, Shelia, and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, their longtime friend and best man at their wedding, spoke Thursday. They have addressed hundreds of people over the years, many of whom have been positively impacted by Harden’s messages.

“Greg Harden achieved his goal,” said fraternity brother Isaac Lockhart. “He was here for a reason and lived through it.”