William Harbeck

Written by Joe Fritzsche

How do you encapsulate someone who changed the trajectory of your life, someone who had such a large impact, someone who pushed you to limits you didn’t even know you could break, someone who cared so deeply about you and all of the people they knew. The short answer is you can’t; its impossible.

Coach Harbeck has been one of the most influential figures in my life. Before discovering cross country and track, I was certainly not the “athletic” type. I was an eighth-string cornerback of the JFL team and enjoyed picking grass out of the baseball field. To be honest, I used to think cross country was just a club where people traveled across the country (sadly this is a true fact). Coach Harbeck helped me tap into a side of myself I didn’t know existed. He had high expectations and pushed his athletes to the limit. He knew that we were all capable of great things if we were willing to put in the work. Running for Coach Harbeck in high school has certainly created some of the fondest memories:

Going on XC retreats
Playing shuffleboard in Coach’s basement
Running endless minute drills
Doing at least 2 fartlek workouts a week
Watching out for roots at Spitler
Watching the Long Green Line
Eating at Del Carmens
Having 45-minute pre-practice talks (mainly focused on the triangle loop at Detwiler)
Getting chocolate milk and watermelon
Eating Avanti’s before state
Staying at the Super 8 Motel

I have about 100 more I could list. That is the impact this man has had. The memories I have because of him could fill a novel and then some.

Growing up, I always had a passion to become a teacher. It wasn’t until I got to know Coach Harbeck that my passions shifted. I wanted to become a coach. I was even more blessed to come back to teach at Mt. Zion and coach alongside Coach Harbeck. It has been a dream come true getting to be with one of my heroes.

I’ve told myself recently, that if I could have 1% of the impact that Coach Harbeck has had on me and share that with the athletes I’m blessed enough to coach, I would be doing something right.

Coach Harbeck always shared this quote with our team:

“The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.”

I knew that quote was important to our team at the time, however, as I think about that quote now it hits different.

To me, Coach Harbeck has always been the “wolf.” The athletic programs he has been a part of have only been strong because he was the leader. He led multiple “packs” of athletes and guided them to success on the course, the track, and more importantly in life. As a “pack,” we have always looked to him for guidance and support. If you followed his example, it would lead you to setting personal records and becoming the best version of yourself. That is the importance of the “wolf.” I like to think that Coach Harbeck never retired from coaching because he loved his “pack” and that we as his athletes gave him the strength and motivation to keep going. He kept going because as the “wolf,” he didn’t want to let his “pack” down.

Coach Harbeck, I love you. I can’t thank you enough for the countless hours you have spent guiding me and helping me grow. I can’t thank you enough for the sacrifice of personal/family time you have put in over the years to continue to impact countless of your lives. Your impact will last a lifetime and your legacy will live on.

There will never be another Coach Harbeck. The wolf may be resting but the pack will continue on.