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Pacific Lutheran welcomes three new coaches into fold

Three new coaches (left to right): Jerrod Fleury '96, Dave Harshman, and John Yorke '91.

By Nick Dawson

A pair of Pacific Lutheran graduates and the son of one of the school's most well-known and successful coaches have joined the school's coaching staff.

John Yorke '91 has been selected to replace Joe Waters as men's soccer head coach. Jerrod Fleury '96 has been named women's soccer head coach, replacing Sue Waters. And in men's basketball, PLU reached back into its past in order to move into the future. Dave Harshman, an assistant coach for two seasons from 1972-74 and the son of Lute coaching legend and Basketball Hall of Fame member Marv Harshman, was named head coach. He replaces Bruce Haroldson, who retired after 19 seasons at the university.

Dave Harshman, Men's Basketball
"We are very pleased to have Dave Harshman join our staff," said PLU athletic director Dr. Paul Hoseth. "Successful Division III coaches must be excellent teachers. Dave has been teaching basketball skills to various ages of young people for many years. We believe he has the experience, skills and enthusiasm to be successful at PLU."

Since 1994, Harshman has run "Hoops With Harsh," providing instruction and player development to individuals and groups. In addition, since 1989 he has worked as a college and high school basketball color analyst for Fox Sports Northwest based in Bellevue. He also served as color analyst on Seattle Supersonics radio broadcasts from 1994-96.

Harshman last coached in the college basketball ranks at Washington State University, where he was an assistant for two seasons from 1987-89. Prior to that, he was the associate head coach at Lamar University during the 1986-87 season. He also held assistant coaching positions at Iowa State University from 1976-77, at University of Nebraska from 1977-78 and at Michigan State University from 1978-81, including the Spartans' 1979 national championship season. Harshman was head basketball coach from 1974-76 at Spokane Falls College.

In addition to his college experience, Harshman was an assistant coach of the NBA's Seattle Supersonics during the 1983-84 season and the head coach and general manager of the Continental Basketball Association's Wisconsin Flyers during the 1982-83 campaign.

Harshman earned his bachelor's degree from Washington State University in 1970.

Dave Harshman's father, Marv, coached at Pacific Lutheran from 1945-58, compiling a 236-116 record. He later went on to coaching success at Washington State University and the University of Washington.

John Yorke '91, Men's Soccer
Since 1993, Yorke has been a social studies teacher and boys varsity soccer coach at Auburn High School, where he earned South Puget Sound League Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and 2001. He also served as the girls varsity head coach at Auburn High School from 1998-2001. Prior to that, Yorke was the Green River Community College women's soccer coach from 1991-95. He is currently on the coaching staff for area club team FC United.

Yorke played two years of college soccer at Green River Community College before playing a year each at PLU and Belhaven (Miss.) College. He returned to PLU and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Jerrod Fleury '96, Women's Soccer
Fleury is an eighth-grade health and physical education teacher in the Federal Way School District. He served as women's soccer head coach at Central Washington University in 1998 and 1999, leading his 1998 team to the Pacific West Conference championship with a 12-6-1 record. Fleury started his coaching career at Tacoma Community College, where he was the men's soccer head coach from 1991-93. He became the women's coach at TCC in 1996 and 1997, finishing with a 36-1-3 overall record and leading both teams to league and state championships. Fleury also coached boys and girls high school soccer in several area schools.

Fleury earned his bachelor's degree in physical education at PLU, and is scheduled to finish work on a master's in athletic administration from Central Washington later this year.

"The field of candidates for both (soccer coaching) positions was outstanding. We are pleased to have both John and Jerrod join our coaching staff," said Hoseth. "I am confident that these men will give excellent leadership to their programs and will help to provide an outstanding collegiate experience for their athletes."