By Ely Noble, Student Reporter
The day Robbie Harman first got to college at the University of Central Michigan, he knew he wanted to coach basketball when he was done playing.
As his college days got slim, he started to make connections with coaches and made his plans to become a coach after his days of playing ended.
Harman is the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Northwestern.
“Basketball was my love growing up,” Harman said while talking about the role basketball played in his life.
LIFELONG LOVE
OF SPORTS
He played basketball from the youngest age he could until he finished his professional career in the Netherlands.
Harman graduated from Traverse City Central High School in Traverse City, Michigan, and attended Central Michigan University, where he played both basketball and baseball for four years.
He was a part of two NCAA Division I MAC West Division Championships.
He said he lived the game and never wanted to have to stop.
“He was definitely the more vocal one in the group,” said Jordan Bitzer, a former teammate at Central Michigan.
This trait of Harman’s caught the attention of teammates throughout the years, showing that he had what it takes to coach at an elevated level.
Harman was born on June 2, 1988 and raised in Traverse City all the way through high school.
He was active in sports and other extracurricular activities.
Harman lived with his parents, Lynnette and Thomas Harman, and had six siblings in the house.
“I love my family,” Harman said.
Harman said he was a big family-kid growing up, and he still is today.
Harman has been looked upon as a kind person and someone who is always trying to help people, including his players, no matter the circumstances, those who know him say.
“Right after [Robbie] gets done yelling at them, he will literally help them with anything, even if it’s fixing their car,” said his wife, Mickaela Harman.
Being a coach means more than just coaching the game to Harman. To him, his job is also to help them succeed off the court and prepare for his players for the future.
Growing up, Harman was a dedicated person no matter what was in front of him.
“He is one of the most determined individuals I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” said Ernie Zeigler,
Harman’s former coach at Central Michigan.
OFF THE COURT
On the basketball court, Harman is always the biggest competitor, but it is not just on the floor where he always wants to win.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s basketball or a board game, he is always trying to beat everybody there,” Mickaela Harman said.
Harman succeeded in basketball for a long time and continues to do so, and he was one of the best athletes around, Bitzer said.
“He was probably the best all-around athlete I’ve ever had a chance to play with,” Bitzer said.
Basketball plays a huge role in Harman’s life, but family is also something he cherishes.
Harman has a daughter named Stella.
“My biggest accomplishment in life is having my daughter and getting married to my wife, Mickaela.” Harman said.
His biggest accomplishment with the game of basketball is getting to the point he is at now after everything he has been through.
In November 2003, Harman was 15 years old when he lost his father to cancer. Harman strives to make his dad proud as long as he can until they are able to meet again in heaven, Harman’s wife said.
“I would say certainly he wants to make his parents and daughter proud every single day,” Mickaela Harman said.
His friends and family say this is another reason he works to be such a great and successful person.
Harman does his best to help others get through struggles, his friends say.
“He is always trying to look at the positive in everything, even in the most horrible situation,” Bitzer said.
His past teammates said he would always get them in the gym to help them through the tough stretch of basketball and help boost their confidence for upcoming games and practices.
The competitive nature of Harman is sometimes a good thing for him and the others around him, but sometimes, he tends to get too anxious.
“He sometimes gets too worried or anxious about upcoming games,” Mickaela Harman said.
A PASSION FOR SUCCESS
Harman has few passions, but the ones that he does have are deep.
His passion for basketball has helped him be at the point he is at in his life. With the passion for basketball comes a passion for success. Family and friends are also another passion, and he wants people to know he cares, Zeigler said.
Harman has not only affected the players he coaches on and off the court. He did the same thing with his past teammates.
“He knows what it takes to be successful on and off the court and how to bring his teammates with him,” Blitzer said.
This is one thing Harman has been able to carry with him all the way from his success on the court to watching from the sidelines as a coach, motivating his players.
“Watching my brother work so hard his whole life at something and finally see him make a career out of something he enjoys is awesome,” said David Harman, his brother.
Not only do his demanding work and dedication affect the ones that are also involved in it, but it has also affected ones looking from the outside in.
Harman has had much success in his basketball career, but there have been disappointments also, he said.
“When you have the team, you just know you can make it, and then you have to deal with injuries all year, it hurts,” Harman said. “The accomplishments that come after are much sweeter after going through the disappointments first.”
The coach looks at those times and makes it a learning experience for himself and his team to help grow individually and as a team.
Harman said he is not holding onto his past. He said he is looking for more success in his career and wants to teach his players what it is like to be at the top of something they’ve worked hard at.
“I want to bring the success I have had in the past coaching and playing to Northwestern and help this program,” Harman said