He served as the head football coach at Lehigh University (1934–1941), Wabash College (1946–1950), and Arkansas State College—now Arkansas State University (1954), compiling a career college football record of 49–60–11.

He led the Boilermakers to the 1929 Big Ten title in football, quarterbacking them to a perfect record of 8–0 (5–0 in conference), outscoring the opposition 187–44.

He was the first Purdue athlete to play on two teams in same academic year that posted undefeated conference marks.

[1] Harmeson was the 18th head football coach at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1934 until 1941.

[3] Harmeson coached the Arkansas State University football team for the 1954 season.