Harry Freeman enters his third season and fourth stint overall with the Norfolk State track and field program in 2026-27, serving as special assistant to Director of Track and Field Programs Kenneth Giles. He specializes in coaching the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and 4x400-meter relay.
During the 2025-26 season, Freeman played a key role in the Spartans' success. He coached Kendrick Winfield to his second consecutive MEAC title in the 400 meters at both the indoor and outdoor championships. Freeman also guided the women's 4x400-meter relay team to a gold medal at the MEAC Indoor Championships and helped the men's 4x400-meter relay team capture gold at the MEAC Outdoor Championships.
Freeman contributed to Norfolk State's team success as the men's program won MEAC indoor and outdoor championships. He also helped the women's team earn a runner-up finish at the MEAC Indoor Championships and a third-place finish at the MEAC Outdoor Championships.
During the 2024-25 season, Freeman played a pivotal role in the Spartans' success. He coached Winfield to USTFCCCA All-America honors and helped the men's 4x400-meter relay team post the nation's fastest time at the South Florida Invitational. He also guided Premier Wynn to qualify for the U20 Championships during the summer of 2024.
Freeman contributed to Norfolk State's sweep of the MEAC men's indoor and outdoor championships, while the women's team earned runner-up finishes in both seasons. He coached four individual NCAA East First Round qualifiers and one relay team qualifier. His athletes also set two school relay records and one individual school record during the season.
Freeman returned to Norfolk State for his fourth stint with the program after previously serving as an assistant coach from 2006-11. He worked with the men's team from 2006-08, the women's team from 2008-09, and both programs from 2009-11. During that span, Freeman helped the Spartans capture 14 MEAC championships.
Prior to his return to Norfolk State, Freeman served as an assistant coach for the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs at St. Augustine's College from 1990-96 and 1998-2005. His primary responsibilities included coaching the cross country teams while assisting with the middle-distance and quarter-mile runners.
Freeman guided the Falcons to the 2000 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional cross country championship and earned Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors that season. He also helped St. Augustine's win 16 NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor national championships during his tenure.
As a student-athlete at St. Augustine's from 1979-83, Freeman established himself as one of the program's most accomplished runners. He earned CIAA Cross Country Most Outstanding Performer honors three times and won the 1982 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championship. That same year, he became the first NCAA Division II cross country All-American in CIAA history. Freeman still holds the school's cross country records in the 8,000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
Freeman has nearly 20 years of experience directing summer youth programs in the Raleigh, N.C., area and the Hampton Roads region. He also spent a decade teaching physical education in the classroom.
Freeman earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from St. Augustine's in 1983. His son, Harry Freeman Jr., was a member of the Norfolk State football team from 2013-16.
