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Greg Harden (1948 or 1949 – September 12, 2024) was an American life coach, motivational speaker, and executive consultant who was best known for his work with 7-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady. He also worked with Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, and 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Brady, Howard, and other athletes credit Harden with inspiring them to overcome obstacles and achieve success in their professional and personal lives. "Personal Statement: The Unsung Hero Of Michigan Athletics", by Michelle McMahon, January 6, 2014 Harden has created a personal improvement program that is unique in sports. "Michigan's 'secret weapon'", by Jeff Mortimer, May 20, 2014 In 2014, he was profiled in a segment on 60 Minutes.
In August 2023, Harden published his first book, Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive. The book debuted at #1 on all of Amazon, and would go on to become a bestseller on the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly lists.
Besides sports, Harden provided performance coaching to corporate executives and community leaders.
Harden worked with some of the greatest athletes and coaches of all time in their respective sports, including Tom Brady, Desmond Howard, Jalen Rose, and Michael Phelps.
Desmond Howard won the Heisman Trophy in 1991. Howard describes Harden's influence as: “If Greg Harden wasn’t at the University of Michigan…I don’t win the Heisman.”
In the late 1990s, Harden also worked closely with Tom Brady, future NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady mentioned that Harden does not always embrace traditional philosophies on coaching and training, which Brady appreciated. "Tom Brady Cannot Stop", by Mark Leibovich, January 26, 2015. In interviews Brady has mentioned Harden's influence: “He will always be somebody I rely on for sound advice and mentorship. He has helped me with my own personal struggles in both athletics and in life. "Tom Brady's Guru", by Eric Adelson, January 11, 2011. Greg really pushed me in a direction that I wasn’t sure I could go.”
Before the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, Harden worked with Michael Phelps and his swimming coach Bob Bowman, and Bowman credits Harden with helping him to communicate better with Phelps. Bowman said of Harden: “He’s a miracle worker. He made me a better coach and a better person.”
Warde Manuel was a football player from 1986 to 1989 and is now the athletic director at the University of Michigan. Manuel said of Harden: “We’re better off because of Greg. I’m a much better husband, man, and father. Because of him, we got the edge that takes us the half-step to becoming better people.”
Nik Stauskas was a first round NBA draft pick in 2014 by the Sacramento Kings. Stauskas said of Harden: “He’s the main reason why I would say I’m a different person and a different player. "Michigan's Nik Stauskas conquered Big Ten with help from his notebook", by Jeff Seidel, March 13, 2014 If you master your mind, you master the game of basketball.” "How Stauskas willed himself to the NBA", by Michael Grange, June 25, 2014
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