The Swarthmore College men’s basketball team has elevated Conor Harkins ’22 to its full-time assistant coach, the program announced Wednesday afternoon. Harkins, who joined the coaching staff ahead of the 2023–24 season, will serve as the team’s top assistant.
“There is no one better suited to step up and help this program move in the right direction than Conor,” said head coach Shane Loeffler. “As a former captain, Conor deeply understands our culture and what it takes to succeed at Swarthmore. His development as a coach on our staff the last two years is clear to those around him and shows he is ready to take the next step in his career. The team is in good hands and will not miss a beat as he pivots into his new role.”
Since joining the coaching staff, Harkins has helped lead the Garnet to a Centennial Conference Championship and a 38-18 record over the past two seasons. In his first year, Swarthmore posted a 21-9 record and claimed its second consecutive Centennial Conference Championship with a victory over Johns Hopkins University. The team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 3 Trinity College.
Harkins took on an expanded role this past season, helping lead a young Swarthmore squad to a 17-9 overall record. The Garnet earned a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the ninth consecutive year, while standout first-year Zander Jimenez was named both the Centennial Conference and D3Hoops Region V Rookie of the Year.
“The Swarthmore men’s basketball program is a special family and I’m extremely honored to continue to be a part of it,” said Harkins. “There are countless individuals who have supported me over the years as both a player and a coach, including Shane Loeffler, Landry Kosmalski, and Brad Koch, as well as all of my former teammates. I look forward to expressing this gratitude to them, and everybody else, by working tirelessly for our student-athletes to improve the program’s already strong culture.”
Before transitioning to the coaching staff, Harkins enjoyed a remarkable playing career with the Garnet. One of the top shooters in Centennial Conference history, Harkins averaged 10.7 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from three-point range. He finished his career with 1,297 points—tenth all-time in program history—and holds program records for both single-season and career three-pointers made.
Harkins served as a team captain for two seasons, helping lead Swarthmore to an impressive 104-17 overall record and a 10-3 mark in NCAA Tournament play. During his playing career, he was part of four NCAA Tournament teams, one Centennial Conference Championship squad, and made an appearance in the National Championship game.
After his collegiate career, Harkins spent a season playing professionally in Ireland’s Division One National League. He averaged 22.6 points per game and was named a Second-Team All-Ireland All-Star. Harkins also served as head coach for an Under-20 National League team during his time abroad.
