Michigan players mourn after Wolverines counselor Greg Harden dies on September 12: "RIP" "Forever indebted"

Longtime Michigan Wolverines administrator Greg Harden died on Thursday due to complications resulting from surgery, according to a statement released by the institution. He was hired to the program as a student-athlete personal development program counselor and staff consultant in 1986 by College Football Hall of Fame coach Bo Schembechler.

Michigan players paid their tributes to Harden on Instagram. First-choice quarterback Davis Warren posted a graphic with the caption:

"Forever indebted."

Davis' IG stories

Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland reposted a graphic from the University of Michigan Athletics.

"RIP," Loveland wrote.

Loveland's IG stories

Michigan defensive back Will Johnson also reposted the Michigan Wolverines' graphic.

Johnson's IG stories

Harden completed undergraduate and master's degrees from the institution. After years of counselling several elite athletes, he stepped down from the athletic department four years ago, although he remained a background advisor to the student-athletes. He was also the Toronto Maple Leafs' peak performance coach.

Greg Harden memorialized by Michigan

Greg Harden worked with several student-athletes who became elite in their chosen codes, including NFL legend and Wolverines alumnus Tom Brady and former Olympics swimmer Michael Phelps, which helped build his legacy in the Ann Arbor community.

After Harden's death, Michigan's athletic director, Warde Manuel, released a statement memorializing the former counselor and highlighting his impact on himself and the institution.

"There is no one better than Greg Harden and we are devastated as a Michigan family by this news," Warde Manuel said in the statement. "Greg has positively impacted the lives of so many student-athletes, coaches, and staff at Michigan. He made an unbelievable impact on my life. I am grateful and lucky to have had him in my life for the past 40 years.

"I will be forever indebted to Greg for all that he did to help shape me into the person that I am today."

Harden was often referred to as "Michigan's secret weapon" in the media after a CBS "60 Minutes" segment aired in 2014 gave him the moniker.

Most recently, Greg Harden worked with J.J. McCarthy, who led the Michigan Wolverines to an unbeaten national championship-winning season and was picked No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.