College Sports Information Directors of America

Steve Harter – University of Mount Union, Football, Wrestling

Academic All-America Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Steve Harter was a two-sport athlete in football and wrestling at the University of Mount Union (formerly Mount Union College when he competed) from 1980-1983. As an offensive lineman on the football team, Harter started on varsity in the second game of his freshman year and never missed a game after. Among his accolades include being a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) lineman as well as team MVP his senior year. In 1983, Harter was awarded the Ohio Athletic Conference's Ken Wable Award for being the top offensive lineman along with being voted to the Associated Press Little All-America 2nd team.

After starting as a reserve his freshman year on the wrestling team, Harter broke out his sophomore season, setting a school record of 17 pins en route to finishing second in the OAC. The following year, he was an All-American after placing eighth at the NCAA Championships.

After struggling with dyslexia and the hardships that came with it, Harter was challenged by his professors and coaches to match his enormous effort in athletics to his studies in the classroom and he took that challenge to heart.

In 1984, Harter was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American. The business and accounting major went on to make the Dean's List in each semester during his final two years at Mount Union.

After graduating in 1984, Harter pursued a career in business and has assisted in founding over 25 companies in his lifetime with a primary focus in industry-shifting technologies. In 1994, Harter founded Notre Capital Ventures and where he continues to be a managing partner. During his first five years with the company, he created and launched eight other companies that have generated over seven billion dollars in revenue. Harter is also Chairman and Owner of Knomatic, a company producing low code software which brings mobile technology and digitalization to business processes.

Harter has made generous philanthropic donations, including the lead gifts in a 200-man locker room at the Mount Union Wable Harter Football Facility and the Kolenbrander Harter Information Center which is the technology hub for the school. He has shown support for helping middle school students in need by donating thousands of bicycles to Changing Young Children's Lives through Education (CYCLE). Harter and his colleagues at NVC also started the Adopt a Middle School program dedicated to helping struggling middle schools in Houston turn their programs around by providing mentorship, opportunities and resources.

Steve Harter on his induction into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame: "Obviously I am honored to be inducted in the class of 2024. My life changing event was when Coach Ken Wable told me if I wanted to be a football All American I needed to be on the Dean's list . Dr Horning and Dr Saffle had both told him I was not living up to my capabilities in the classroom. At this point I was a B plus student with the 5th best grade point on the team. Only at a place like Mount Union would a head coach tell his standout athlete that was not good enough. That conversation opened doors that I could not have imagined that day."

Larry Kehres, former Mount Union football head coach, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame: "Steve was a champion wrestler and an All-American football player. He succeeded in the business world using intelligence, passion, and his competitive spirit."

Current Mount Union Head Wrestling Coach Ryan Riggs: "Congratulations on the upcoming induction into the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame. I am grateful for Steve Harter’s friendship, guidance, and tremendous impact with the wrestling program. He has set an excellent example for student-athletes who continue to pursue their goals and dreams. Thank you for representing the University of Mount Union with pride and honor."
 

Louise McCleary, Vice President of Division III: "Having half of this year’s CSC Academic All-America class be former Division III student-athletes is a testament to the division’s focus on providing a well-rounded student-athlete experience. James Clear from Denison and Steve Harter from Mount Union represent the very best of Division III, and we congratulate them on this national recognition."