Hall of Fame
Joseph Harding, is being inducted into the Malone Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 as a winner of the Pioneer Award for Meritorious Service.
The Pioneer Award for Meritorious Service honors coaches, administrators, and other members of the Malone community who have worked tirelessly to support the University's Athletic Department.
Joe attended Malone College on an athletic training scholarship where he earned a BS in Physical Education. He was the Head Athletic Trainer as a student for 4 years and was hired as their first full time athletic trainer upon graduation in 1972. Joe had the pleasure of training for all the sports and caring for the care and prevention of athletic injuries. Some highlights included Malone's first NAIA National Championship in Cross Country, the Malone basketball team's upset of Kentucky State, and the baseball team's wins in regional competition.
During the summer of '72 Joe traveled as athletic trainer for 60 track and field athletes and coaches on his first sport's ministry trip to 10 African countries and Israel. This trip, sponsored by the State Department and organized by Wheaton College, held track meets to qualify athletes from these countries for the Munich Olympics that year.
After leaving Malone in 1973, Harding went on to have a highly decorated career both as an athletic trainer and a soccer coach at Wheaton College, Montreat-Anderson Junior College and the Moody Bible Institute.
In 33 seasons of coaching Harding has guided his teams to 7 final four appearances and 3 NCCAA National Championships (1994, 2001, and 2011) while at Huntington University and Moody Bible Institute. Fellow coaches have honored Coach Harding as conference, district, and national coach of the year 18 times, including five NCCAA national honors and two NAIA District honors.
The National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) presented their highest award to Coach Harding in 2006, the NISOA Honor Award. Harding also received two NCCAA Merit Awards and The NCCAA/NISOA Frank Jewel Merit Award. Joe has compiled a record of 289 wins, 244 losses, and 32 ties for a .534 winning percentage. In 1985 with a winning percentage of .669 Harding ranked as the NAIA's 18th winningest coach (85-41-4).
Another priority for Joe is spreading God's Word through sport ministry trips. He has traveled with Wheaton, Huntington, and Moody teams to do ministry in 23 countries running soccer clinics, camps, leading worship services, and touching individual's lives.Â
In 2011 Joe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and went through surgery, chemo, and radiation. In October he will become a 10 year survivor. He and his wife are both retired and reside in Mount Vernon Ohio.
