Hall of Fame
Tom “Legs” Harbert was an integral leader and four-year letterwinner in the early years of Shippensburg University wrestling under legendary coach Bill “Spider” Corman. He won the 1961 PSAC championship at 115 pounds, becoming just the third Red Raider to ever win a conference crown. To this day, he is one of just six wrestlers to win a PSAC title.
Harbert’s championship came in the wrestling program’s sixth year as an official athletic sport at Shippensburg. The 1961 squad was one of the school’s best, placing third at the PSAC championships and posting a 9-2 dual meet record. SU also won its final seven dual meets of the regular season.
After winning the PSAC title, Harbert competed in the United States Olympic Trials for wrestling while still enrolled at Shippensburg. He competed in AAU tournaments and numerous open competitions while at Shippensburg and after graduation.
Harbert also ran the mile and two-mile events for the Raider track teams. Following graduation, he continued his running career by participating in four marathons and numerous road races. He also won the United States Masters Wrestling Tournament at the University of Pennsylvania.
After his competitive wrestling career ended, Harbert moved on to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe as head wrestling coach. He is in his 49th year as a head coach and spent 44 years coaching men’s and women’s cross country and lacrosse. Harbert was integral in the creation of the lacrosse programs at Saint Vincent and remains the director of the Nike Girl’s Lacrosse Camp at Saint Vincent. To this day, he remains the only women’s cross country coach the school has ever had.
He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Lifetime Service to Wrestling in 2010, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame 2008 and the Saint Vincent Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
He spent many years as the head coach at Latrobe High School compiling a 202-87-5 record and also coached collegiately at Saint Vincent for eight seasons.
Harbert has also served as a PIAA wrestling official for 31 years, is a charter member of the Westmoreland County chapter of the PIAA wrestling officials association, and was the director of Region IV of the Keystone State Games.
Today, Harbert serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame East Boro chapter while still coaching women’s cross country at Saint Vincent.
