Harper University

Welcome to Harper College Men’s Cross Country - a program rich in tradition, success, and opportunity for growth. Since our inaugural season in 1968, the Hawks have been a proud part of Harper’s athletic history, offering student-athletes the chance to compete, grow, and thrive on a national stage.

Our program was first led by Coach Bob Nolan, who built the foundation of excellence during his 11-season tenure. Among the standout runners he coached was future head coach Jim Macnider, the first Hawk to qualify individually for the NJCAA National Championship before the creation of divisions. In challenging conditions, Macnider placed 21st at nationals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - just shy of All-American honors. He returned the next season and qualified again, continuing to set the standard for future Hawks. The highlight of Nolan's tenure was leading Harper to its first national championship team appearance in 1971. He and successor Joe Vitton, who coached through 1985, were both named Region 4 Coach of the Year during their time. Former Hawk runner Ron Theberge coached through the 1988 season before the Hawks went on a 11 season hiatus.

Coach Jack Ary re-established the program in 2000. With the formation of NJCAA Division III in 1991, Harper found itself on a more level playing field. Ary took full advantage, coaching the team to four Region 4 titles and five national appearances, improving each time and culminating in a Pepsi Cup Challenge win in 2006 for the best combined men’s and women’s national meet finish. Ary produced 12 All-Region runners and First Team All-American Patrick Walsh, earning four Region 4 Coach of the Year honors along the way.

Coach Dan Delahunt led the Hawks in 2007 to another Region 4 title and a fourth-place national finish. He also coached Jesus Escareno (Rolling Meadows High School), who placed second in the nation - at the time, the best individual finish in program history. Paul Paynter continued that momentum from 2008-2010 with two Region 4 titles and two top-10 national finishes. Escareno again finished as national runner-up in 2009.

In 2011, Coach Jim Macnider returned to lead the program - and everything changed.

Under Macnider, the Hawks have soared to new heights. From 2011-2018, Harper won eight straight NJCAA DIII National Championships and captured their ninth in 2024. Prior to Macnider’s arrival, the program had five All-American runners. Since then, that number has exploded to 48 - including two individual national champions: Troy Cunningham (Conant High School) in 2012, and Juan Barajas (Schaumburg High School) in 2014 . Macnider has been supported throughout his tenure by an experienced coaching staff, all of whom are Harper alumni:

-Eric Wallor, assistant from 2008-2022, 2001 & 2002 MVP, and current top-10 all-time Harper runner
-John Majerus, Second Team All-American and MVP of the 2014 title team, now assistant coach since 2017
-Dianne Barajas, First Team All-American from the 2016 women’s national championship team, assistant coach since 2021


Together, this staff brings unmatched experience and dedication to helping the next generation of runners excel both on the course and in the classroom.

We’re proud to recruit student-athletes from across the Chicagoland area, including the MSL, Fox Valley, Upstate 8, NSC, CSL, DuKane, Kishwaukee River, NIC-10, NLCC, and WSC conferences. As an NJCAA Division III program, we do not offer athletic scholarships or housing. However, students can become eligible for in-district tuition by working a part-time job or residing within Harper’s district - making Harper an affordable and accessible option for dedicated runners.


If you're passionate about running, driven to compete, and looking to grow as both a student and an athlete, we would love to hear from you. Join a tradition of excellence and be a part of the next great chapter in Harper Hawks Men’s Cross Country.