A Legacy of Integrity

Words by Randy Stracner | Image courtesy of the David Harbin family

Every time I meet someone who knows my father-in-law, David Harbin, I hear the same thing: “Oh, I love Coach Harbin!” I have never heard a negative word about him. This is something that has continually motivated me throughout my own teaching and coaching career. 

David taught and coached at T.W. Martin from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. He then taught and coached at Parrish, his alma mater, until he retired. His final year coaching, he took his football team to the state championship at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Did he coach winning teams? Yes, but more importantly he left a legacy of integrity for all those students and players. After all these years, they still think so highly of him. 

I began my own coaching career in 2000. Each season and each sport brings its own challenges, but one word always comes to mind: integrity. It is an idea that was taught to me by David Harbin. He loved and cared for his students and athletes. He strived to treat them with respect. He demanded their best. He wanted to do right by them.

David never wanted to be recognized for anything he did for his students and athletes, but years later, those students and athletes still remember what he did for them. 

Participation in sports can bring out the best or the worst in people. Integrity and character, or lack thereof, are on full display for those of us who have been given this wonderful opportunity to serve as coaches. Notice I used the word “serve.” This is the most important trait we are to exemplify as coaches—servanthood.

A true mentor is a servant who puts others first. That should be our motivation for coaching. But this is true for all of us, no matter the profession or season of life. 

We are to strive to be imitators of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, came to serve, not be served. Take a few moments to read Philippians 2. Let’s all aspire to live a life of integrity as we look for ways to serve others. 78

This article first appeared in the September/October 2022 “Sports” issue of 78 Magazine.