He attended Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, where he lettered thirteen times in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field and graduated in 1942.

[9] While at his alma mater (1945–58), Harshman was also the head football coach from 1951 to 1957, compiling a 27–26–2 (.509) record, and also led the baseball team for the last five seasons.

He moved east to Washington State University in Pullman in 1958 to succeed Jack Friel and coached the Cougars for 13 seasons.

When Husky head coach Tex Winter left for the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1971, Harshman moved across the state to the University of Washington in Seattle.

Pressured by the university administration to step down, Harshman involuntarily retired from coaching at age 67 in 1985, following consecutive conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances.