Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) lost a legend as Ned Harkness has passed away at the age of 89. Harkness, who coached RPI men’s hockey and men’s lacrosse teams to National Championships, died at his home in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday morning.

“Ned Harkness was a true legend,” said Jim Knowlton, Rensselaer’s director of athletics. “The things he and his teams accomplished are nothing short of amazing. Most importantly, however; he was a leader who used innovative techniques to teach and inspire with passion and intensity.”

Harkness, who was born on September 19, 1919, re-started the Rensselaer men’s hockey program in 1949-50 and quickly brought the team to national prominence. He enjoyed 10 winning seasons, including eight years of at least 14 victories, and saw three of his teams play in the NCAA Tournament (1952-53, 1953-54, 1960-61), winning the 1954 National Championship to become the first coach in NCAA history to win national titles in two sports. 

“The RPI hockey family is deeply saddened with the passing of Coach Harkness,” said current men’s hockey coach Seth Appert. “Although Ned is no longer with us, his accomplishments and passion will continue to inspire RPI student-athletes for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Harkness family.”

In 14 years at the helm Harkness compiled a 176-96-7 record, making him the winningest coach in school history at the time. He currently ranks third in RPI history in wins and second in winning percentage (.643). Among the student-athletes Harkness recruited and coached, 10 went on to be named to National All-Americans, including six who were chosen to the First Team.

In addition to resurrecting the hockey program, Harkness also served as the Institute’s head men’s lacrosse coach, compiling a school record 109 wins. A member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, he led his team to the 1952 National Championship and was the U.S. Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 1951.  The 1948 team competed against the British All-Stars in the Olympics as an exhibition sport at Wembley Stadium in England.  With the Queen in attendance, Rensselaer tied the British All-Stars before a crowd of 60,000 fans.  The lacrosse field the current team plays on is named in honor of Harkness. 

“We are truly saddened by the passing of Ned Harkness, the founding father of RPI lacrosse,” said current head men’s lacrosse coach Jim Townsend. “Ned was a true champion, instilling confidence, pride and perseverance into his teams. His legacy will never be forgotten. The RPI lacrosse family extends our sympathy to the Harkness family and to all of Ned’s former athletes who were fortunate to have played for him.”

Also a member of the RPI Athletics Hall of Fame as well as the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, among several others, Harkness was inducted into Rensselaer’s Hockey Ring of Honor in 2007.

Following his days at Rensselaer, Harkness, a native of Ottawa, went on to coach at Cornell University – where he won the 1967 and 1970 National Championships in hockey. He led the 1970 team to a perfect 29-0-0 record, the only unbeaten, untied National Championship team in NCAA history.  Overall he was 163-27-2 with the Big Red in hockey (1963-70), winning five Ivy League titles and playing in four NCAA Tournaments.  Individually, he earned the U.S. Hockey Coach of the Year Award in 1968.  As Cornell's lacrosse caoch, he posted a 35-1 record, including two Ivy League championships as the lacrosse coach (1966-68). 

Harkness moved from Cornell to coach the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in 1970, becoming the first college coach to go directly to the NHL.  He also served as the general manager of the Red Wings from 1971-74.  Harkness later revived hockey at Union College in 1975, leading the Dutchmen to a 46-6-2 mark.  His final overall college coaching record was 396-124-11.

He later became the director of the Glens Falls Civic Center and the president and chief executive office of the Olympic Regional Development Authority in 1982.  He retired in August 1993. 

Nevin D. "Ned" Harkness attended Glens Falls Academy and Glens Falls High School before graduating from Worcester Academy in Worcester, Mass., in 1939.  He then enrolled at the Royal Canadian Air Force Academy and served with the Canadian Air Force in World War II (1943-45), flying 39 successful bombadier missions over Europe.  He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1949.

A memorial service for Harkness will be held October 11 at 11am in the First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls.