04/01/2026
Michelle Harder is retiring after 40 years with Recreational Services. Here are some comments from Coach Conlon:
Entering the HTRC, we are all fortunate to experience such a premier facility for tennis and recreation. This space exists as a direct result of the dedicated efforts of Michelle Harder, Senior Associate Director of Rec Services. Michelle will be retiring April 1st after 40 incredible years with Recreational Services at Iowa.
When the HTRC was built in 2006, Michelle had a strong hand in the design and construction, set policies, ordered the equipment and hired staff. She then directed all facility operations for several years, including staff supervision, turf scheduling, maintenance and athletic department collaboration. During one of our blizzards, Michelle was at the HTRC shoveling snow at 7:00 a.m. to make sure patrons could get in! Once plans were underway for the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC), she shifted to that side of campus and opened yet another building and on a larger scale. Michelle was the natural person to lead that project with her comprehensive experience with Rec Services. She has done it all from intramurals to camps to aquatics and more!
While her resume is impressive, her character has also been exceptional. When Michelle hired me in 2008, I could see that integrity was at the core of her decisions. I am grateful I could always call her to get her thoughts and ideas knowing that she would offer advice that was ethical and had common sense. One could always trust Michelle and know she was working hard.
Michelle has affectionately been known as the “Mama” of our staff with her care for everyone and ability to nurture a warm and personable work environment. I remember my second week on the job, I was walking to an Iowa football game and heard a voice from the top of a parking ramp---it was Michelle hollering for me to get up to their tailgate! This was my supervisor!
We all hope we keep seeing Michelle at tailgates and other Iowa City events in her retirement. As you walk into our facilities, I hope you feel the lasting impact of Michelle’s extraordinary work. Please join me in celebrating her amazing legacy and wishing her a truly well-deserved retirement.
Michele
