DURHAM, N.C. -- One of the most successful lacrosse coaches of all time, Nevin D. "Ned" Harkness has been announced as one of four coaches making up the 2024 class of inductees to the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLAC) Hall of Fame. Another Cornell name to be inducted into this class is Big Red alumnus Howie Borkan '81, who is the "Bob Russell Contributors Award" recipient. The pair are the first two with Big Red ties to be honored since the program's inception in 2015 when Richie Moran was honored in the inaugural class.

Harkness, who was a 2001 inductee to the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame, first began his lacrosse career at RPI, where he founded the program and served as head coach from 1945-56. During his time there, he compiled a 136-21-1 record including a USILA co-national championship in 1952. His next lacrosse coaching stint came from 1966-68, where he took the helm for the Big Red. He posted a 35-1 record across the three seasons, winning Ivy League titles in 1966 and 1968. Harkness's coaching talents went beyond the lacrosse field, as he coached RPI and Cornell ice hockey, tallying 350 collegiate wins combined from both institutions. In 1967, he led the Big Red to an NCAA Championship, and he remains one of only a handful of coaches to ever win a national championship in two different sports.

"The coaches that I played for growing up were instrumental in making me the person that I have become," said Borkan. "Their guidance and support is so important to the student-athlete and I am thrilled that I have been able to give back to them."

Borkan, a Cornell graduate from the class of 1981, has been involved in the lacrosse world since his collegiate years. He has been involved in all aspects of lacrosse and has served in numerous capacities including serving as the Chairman of the US Men's National Program for 12+ years. One of the founders of lacrosse in Israel, Howie has been involved in all facets of growing the organization to its platform today. In 2011, he was named the General Manager of Isreal Lacrosse and has since served in that role. An evergreen fan of the Big Red, he has served as a color analyst on the lacrosse broadcasts since 2000.

The group will be formally inducted at the Hall of Fame Reception set for Friday, December 13, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Omni Orlando Resort. Tickets for the event will go on say on September 2 here.