Alumni Spotlight: Nadia Batson Harvin

This is the sixth in a series of spotlights on Temple Athletics alumni. The series started with the eight-member 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class, which was inducted the weekend of October 6-7.

Alumni Spotlight: Nadia Batson Harvin

One of the longest-tenured administrators in Temple Athletics history, Nadia Batson Harvin has been working with Temple Athletics since 1985 and currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Head Football Coach

Batson Harvin, who was a member of the Temple Bowling Team as an undergraduate in 1981-82, has touched many lives during her long tenure with Temple Football and has been a bridge for alums throughout coaching changes over the last five decades.

During her amazing career, she has been the assistant to six different head football coaches and has held varied roles within earlier football staffs.

Talk about your days as a student at Temple and, of course, your time on the Bowling team.
"I enjoyed myself while I was a student here at Temple University. As for bowling, I had always been on a bowling team growing up through the Police Athletic League. There was a bowling league on Saturday mornings that I competed in through PAL. So, at Temple, I had my bowling balls with me, and I was just recreationally bowling in the Temple bowling alley located in McGonigle Hall. Mike Higgins, who was on the men's bowling team, happened to see me and asked me to come try out for the women's varsity bowling team. At first, I said no, but he insisted and introduced me to the head coach Jayne Attanasio and that's how I became a member of the team. I would bowl on the team for the next two years (1980-82).

I do remember my first bowling match was at Penn State. I bowled a 240 for my first game.   It was very amazing."

How did your career with Temple Athletics begin?
"It came to be through Earl Cleghorn (former Asst. AD) and Beverly Tinsley (former admin asst.), who I met through my girlfriend (Glynnis). I had just had my son in August of '84 and here she needed someone for maternity leave.

So, January of '85 is when I started working for Earl Cleghorn as a temp in Beverly's position. I must have done a really good job because he did not want me to leave. About a month after Beverly came back, I started working in Paley Library as a clerk/typist. I was supposed to move to the Football office but that did not pan out initially.   After about six months I received a call from HR that a position in the Football office opened so I started there in March of '86.

I was there through 1997, when I moved to what is now known as Tuttleman Counseling Services. I also did a little stint in the Vice President for Student Affairs Office as well as the Business Services Office before coming back to Football when Bobby Wallace was the coach in 2004 in the role of Assistant to the Head Coach.    So, with the timing, I still ended up working with every head football coach since Bruce Arians in my time here.

There have been so many significant changes over your time with the program. Does one stand out the most?
"I think the biggest thing was when we almost lost the football program. I remember working with (then coach) Al Golden. He worked really hard, and we worked some late nights. He did an amazing job considering he led us to our first Bowl Game since 1979. That was the most significant thing during my time here."

When you look back, what is your favorite memory of your time working with Temple Football?
"Well, being inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame definitely ranks as number one.

Besides that, I would say when we received an invitation to the Military Bowl. I remember we were having nice weather and then we got to gameday, and it was like minus-20. The game was great and Al (Golden) coming out in just his shirt and tie under those conditions was amazing.   Even though we did not win, getting to that first bowl game will always be a special memory for me. It was just a culmination of all the hard work put in by him, the staff, and the players to make it happen. It was also so nice for the Temple community as a whole."

Finally, what does it mean to you to be inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame?
"It is extremely gratifying to be recognized in such a way. It is something that a lot of people will not receive in their lifetime so for me to have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame, especially with the class I have been inducted with, is the most amazing thing. I am still flying on Cloud 9 from it. My guys (former players) love to tell me all the time how they are happy I am still here. They say it is so nice to know they have someone in the program that they actually know."

Temple University Athletics

Alumni Spotlight: Nadia Batson Harvin

Related Videos