After a year leading Loyola's men's basketball team as its starting point guard, Michael Harden returned to the team as an assistant on its coaching staff before the 2023-24 season. 

In his first season as an assistant, Loyola captured the 2024 SSAC Championship, becoming the first team to win four games in four days to win the title. 

While on the Loyola coaching staff in the 2023-24 season, Harden also played professionally for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. He appeared in seven games during the G League season. 

As a player at Loyola, Harden played in 29 games and earned First-Team All-SSAC honors. He tied a school record for most free throws in a game, making 19 in a game against Stillman on January 14, 2023. His 61 steals in 2022-23 also rank as the eight-most in a season in Loyola history.

Prior to Loyola, he attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. He also played for Howard College in Texas.