Saturday afternoon Don Harnum and his Rider Broncs will take on St. Peter’s in a nationally televised ESPN2 game. Barring any pressing engagements, I would highly recommend that you settle down in front of the television to catch Jerry Johnson and the Broncs.

Donny is one of my best friends in the business, which might explain why he doesn’t get more attention from the national media. My pal Joe Dwyer (CollegeInsider.com) calls Donny one of the best coaches in America. Joe also calls Donny some other things, as those two frequently exchange entertaining phone messages, but Joe is very accurate. Donny is a terrific coach who has done a great job since taking over for Kevin Bannon just over eight years ago.

Bucknell’s Pat Flannery tabbed Mr. Harnum as the “MAAC Daddy,” a title that I have to continue to pin on Donny over the past couple of years. His website DonHarnum.com explains it all.

Earlier this week I had a chance to catch up with the very slick and spiked-hair individual that is Donny Harnum. .

DAVE MAGARITY: In all my years spent in the MAAC I would be hard pressed to find a young man that I respect and admire as much as Jerry Johnson. As great as he is as a player, he’s a better person. Tell people more about Jerry.

DONNY HARNUM: I agree with that. Jerry is such a popular kid on campus because he is such a great kid. One of the things that make this group such a pleasure to coach is the effect that Jerry has on the rest of the team. As you know, it’s great to go to practice when you have a player like Jerry. He is our best player and he is also our hardest worker and that rubs off on everyone else. He really keeps everyone else in line without saying a word. His actions speak.

His role has changed a lot. He came in as a scorer, but now he is a point guard that can score. Jerry is such a mature young man. He and his fiancé have a daughter and she means everything to him. He is one those kids that is a role model for others.

MAGARITY: When Mario Porter was a senior Jerry was a freshman. Now that Jerry is a senior you have another talented freshman in Jason Thompson. Talk about having that luxury again this season.

HARNUM: Jason has really been a shot in the arm for the frontline. He is in the same position as Jerry was as a freshman in that the world is not expected of him. He is very active and he is a very dynamic player and because of that his role and importance will grow. Right now he is an added bonus, but down the road he is going to be a major part of what we do.

MAGARITY: This Saturday your program has a great opportunity with the nationally televised game on ESPN2. Talk about the importance of a game like this for a mid-major school and also tell me what we can expect to see you sporting. Knowing you so well I am sure that you have put a lot of thought into your game day attire.

HARNUM: (laughing) I knew the non-serious was coming. First, you are right it’s a great opportunity for Rider University in general. It’s been ten years since Rider basketball was on ESPN so everyone is excited about the opportunity. This week the players have handled the build up well. I think they will handle it the right way. St. Peter’s and Rider have played some exciting games in recent years so this should be another entertaining affair.

As for the gear, I was actually going to call you for some tips. Your style and flair is unmatched. Then I thought better of it and called Angela [Lento]. I am a little concerned about my poor FPI, but I don’t want to over do it. I will probably keep it safe and go with something that doesn’t reveal the sweat.

MAGARITY: I want to thank for those nice Cubans. We won’t talk about how you acquired them, but I appreciate the one you gave me in exchange for my Sancho Panza. Being that you are such a cigar aficionado, give us your top three cigars.

HARNUM: (laughing) Any cigar that I can get you to part with is priceless. As for a top three, let’s go with a Romeo and Juliet, Davidoff and a Punch.

MAGARITY: When am I am going to be invited to the Don Harnum Pub? I hear the nice in-house establishment is complete with an exhaust system to clear out the smoke?

HARNUM: (laughing) Now this how I expected the entire interview to go. Given your size and stature I am concerned that the Fire Marshall may show up to tell me we have exceeded the excepted capacity level. But you know that the door to the Harnum Pub is always open to the real MAAC Daddy. Just make sure you bring cigars.

MAGARITY: Lastly, I have been impressed with the development of your website over the past couple of years, but couldn’t you have at least had the decency to wait until I was out of coaching before you proclaimed yourself as the MAAC Daddy. It would have been nice for you to pay homage to my stature before grabbing the title. I’d like to hear how “A Bronx Tale” became a “Broncs Tale.”

HARNUM: Unless my math is off, didn’t you already ask me five questions? This is five-on-five, not six-on-six right?

MAGARITY: Are you going to answer the question? This is what I am talking about. I leave the coaching profession and you immediately grab the mantle of MAAC Daddy.

HARNUM: (laughing) Okay I do apologize for taking the crown that you wore so well. I am also sorry for stealing about twelve of your set plays and if I were bigger I would steal some of your fine clothes. I am betting that your closet has more fabric then most men’s clothing stores.

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