Hayden Harkins joined the Northwestern State coaching staff in April, following head coach Rick Cabrera from Tallahassee Community College to Natchitoches.
Harkins coached alongside Cabrera for two seasons at Tallahassee, helping the Eagles compile a 52-16 overall record, the 2023 Panhandle Conference regular-season championship and a berth in the 2023 NJCAA Final Four.
While at Tallahassee, Harkins recruited and developed five All-Panhandle Conference selections and one All-Region 8 pick.
In Harkins' second season on staff, the Eagles made a magical run to the national semifinals, ripping off three wins in four days in Hutchinson, Kansas.
That performance came after Tallahassee entered the season with only one returning letterman.
In Harkins' first season on staff, Tallahassee posted a 21-10 mark.
Prior to joining Cabrera's staff, Harkins spent the 2020-21 season at Pearl River Community College as an assistant coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Harkins coordinated team travel and assisted with community service activities.Â
He began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State from 2018-20.
Harkins was a four-year letterman at Elmira College in New York where he was a three-year starter and a three-year team captain.
Harkins earned four all-tournament selection in the Empire 8. He holds the school record for 3-pointers in a game with 11 and left as the No. 2 all-time 3-point shooter at Elmira, sinking 256 3s in his career.
