Amidst the hustle and bustle of the state track meet this past week, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowgirl Track Coach Monty Harker picked up a little award himself. Harker was honored by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) for 25 years of coaching.
At the beginning of his coaching career two and a half decades ago, Harker says he spent a year coaching junior high boys track. After that, it was all varsity girls. Harker jokes, “I don’t think there has been a year gone by that someone won’t ask me ‘how can you coach girls’ or put up with them? I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I guess I make them have to put up with me also.”
Harker, who also teaches high school sciences at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, has many moments that he looks fondly on over the last 25 years. “I am proud that during my time we have qualified every single event to state in some year and that we have qualified at least one event every year but my first.”
The coach is also proud of the records he has helped his girls achieve over the years. “If you consider the new hurdle height, we have broken every school record on the board except the 800 meter,” noted Harker. “I would put our school record board up against anybody’s in the state. We have had many talented athletes come through here in my time.”
Harker recalls many special athletes over the years. “It was an honor being able to coach 2-time state champion Michelle Voigts, and that entire group. It has also been nice to see past athletes now coaching themselves at other schools. Molly O’Brien now coaching at Algona, for example, and my new assistant coach Jess Nail who I coached back in 2002-2003. Those things also tell me that I have been here awhile.”
“I will say it has never been boring,” added Harker. “Every season has been a blast and has its own challenges. For example, this year I have the smallest team I have ever had. But I have always preferred quality over quantity. Track is probably the hardest sport they go out for, so they need to succeed in some fashion to like it. Of course, the one disappointing year was the pandemic. We had a lot of talent and probably would have broken some records. Having them get cheated out of that season was frustrating.”
Harker says he enjoys having fun with his athletes as he coaches. “There has probably been one funny event that has happened every season and we give an award for it at the end of the year. That is probably my favorite thing because those have given me some of the best memories and the funniest stories to tell.”
On Saturday, during the state track meet in Des Moines, Harker was recognized with other long-time coaches. He was awarded a plaque for his service to the sport. “Your dedication over the past 25 years has been a valuable asset to the sport and your community,” said Mitch Anderson, IATC 25 Year Coaching Award Chair.
Even though he’s been recognized for his longevity coaching, Harker isn’t thinking about leaving yet. “It seems every so often I think it will be my last year,” he said, “But then a new group will come in and do something special and say you can’t retire until we are done.” In other words, we may just see Coach Harker for another 25 years.
