Derek Harden Jr. carries on his father’s legacy (Part Two)

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CARBONDALE, Ill. — In part two of Derek Harden Jr.'s powerful story, he talks about his dad’s battle with cancer, caring for him during his illness, the support he received from Saluki coaches and teammates, his fiancée, his recovery from knee surgery and his future plans.

SD: How hard did it hit you when you heard your father's diagnosis?

DH: After the South Dakota game (in 2022), my mom called my fiancée and told her my dad had a brain tumor. When she told me, my chest locked up. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to do or even what to pray for. I was lost. I was very hurt.

SD: How were you able to balance football and being there for your dad and family?

DH: The week of his surgery was also the week of the Blackout Cancer game, so I missed practice to be with him. The cancer was between his eye and nose, and the doctors had to remove part of his brain. During surgery, he actually died on the table, but they revived him. When I first saw him afterward, with stitches across his head, tubes everywhere, he looked

gone. I didn’t know if he’d ever wake up. I came back and played in that Blackout Cancer game, and it was one of the best games I’ve ever played. But mentally I was struggling — wondering if my dad was still alive, how my mom and sisters were holding up. I couldn’t focus on school. All I could do was pray. Dealing with that, I had no balance in my life at the time, and I was still learning how to handle everything.

SD: You took some time off during his recovery, right?

DH: Yes. He was in ICU for two weeks, then started chemo. I went with him to a lot of those treatments. I would go home almost every week during the season to see him. He couldn’t eat, lost all his hair, and eventually lost his vision. We had to completely rearrange life at home. We bathed him, carried him, helped him with everything. The roles reversed — he had

taken care of me growing up, and now I was caring for him. Even blind and in pain, he stayed focused on us. He’d ask about my grades, my credit, whether I’d handled things. That was just who he was. He was only supposed to live six months, but God gave us more time. I spent winter break caring for him, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

SD: What were those last days like?

DH: By late September of last year, he wasn’t conscious anymore. The cancer spread, and he had constant infections. We set up a hospital bed at home, and a nurse came in to help. Eventually, he was on life support. My mom wanted to keep praying for a miracle, so I went to the hospital every day and prayed over him. He passed on December 17, 2024.

SD: Was there some comfort in knowing he wasn’t suffering anymore?

DH: Not at first. Human nature is selfish — you want them here, even if they’re suffering. But over time, I found peace. He’s not blind anymore, not dealing with pain or chemo. He’s in a better place.

SD: How did your Saluki family support you through that time?

DH: Coach Clark was incredible. He called me every day, shared his own experiences with loss, and encouraged me constantly. Coach Hill and my teammates—Chase Evans, Jake Green, Abdou Toure—they were always checking on me, calling, texting, making sure I was okay. Even though I missed a lot of games, they never treated me differently.

SD: When did you finally start to feel physically like yourself again?

DH: In winter workouts, when I was cutting and moving, I felt like I was close to my old self. Spring ball confirmed it—I didn’t miss a day, and I felt strong.

SD: Are you dedicating this season to your dad?

DH: I wouldn’t say I’d be dedicating the season to him, but I dedicate everything I do for him. His voice is always in my head: “Be a man. Keep pushing. Don’t quit.” That’s my motivation.

SD: Your teammates voted you captain. How do you view your role as a leader?

DH: I know younger guys are watching me. They see me push through things, and hopefully it shows them they can, too. I even started a support group for our team where players can come together and talk about whatever they’re going through. Sometimes just having that space helps.

SD: What’s your career path after football?

DH: Information technology. I want to start on a help desk, solving computer and network problems, then work my way up to network administrator. With the way technology and AI are going, people need someone to keep systems secure and functioning. That’s where I see myself.

Derek with fiancée, Tristian Johnson

SD: Tell me about your fiancée and how important she’s been.

DH: Her name is Tristian Johnson. We met my freshman year through a dating app. We started talking, and when she came over to my dorm, she noticed how clean it was and how good it smelled — I think that’s when she fell for me. I definitely fell for her. She’s been there through everything — every phase, every surgery, every hardship. She’s my forever. I don’t know how I would have handled it all without her love, encouragement, and support. She’s a Godly, faithful woman, and she keeps me grounded.

SD: Are you planning to return to Atlanta after you graduate?

DH: No, we plan to stay in Illinois. Tristian has her teaching license here, and we’re looking toward the Belleville area. We’ll probably do a courthouse wedding first to get things official, then focus on buying a house and getting our finances in order before planning a destination wedding with family and friends.