MARTINS FERRY — To say the past 72 hours have been a whirlwind for Greg Harkness is probably still selling it short.

Saturday morning, Harkness played in a golf scramble. By that evening, he found himself researching the open position of Athletics Director at Martins Ferry High School, which had come to light as open earlier that afternoon, when news of Mark Cook’s resignation broke on Twitter.

Tuesday evening — at the Martins Ferry City Schools Board of Education meeting — Harkness was approved as the new Director of Athletics and received a two-year contract.

“It was definitely an interesting (couple of days),” Harkness said. “Honestly, this was an opportunity I felt like I couldn’t pass up. I appreciate Mr. (Jim) Fogle and the board showing confidence in me to give me the opportunity.”

Harkness had just completed an eight-year tenure as the Athletics Director at Bridgeport on June 30 after tendering his resignation in March. He had full intentions of remaining on the Bulldogs’ staff as the EMIS coordinator, which he held along with his A.D. post.

“I wasn’t looking to leave Bridgeport, but I felt like if I didn’t take (the Ferry job) this time, someone young would probably get it and do it for 10 or 15 years, so it was probably a now or never type thing for me,” Harkness said. “I really enjoyed my time at Bridgeport and my job, but when I saw this Martins Ferry position, I would by lying if I said it wasn’t a position I was greatly interested in. It’s honestly the only thing I would have left what I was doing for.”

Being it’s basically the middle of July and fall sports practices are just around the corner, Martins Ferry needed to act quickly to fill the job. The fact that Harkness, who formally begins on Aug. 1, brings as much experience as he does should ease the transition.

“I feel like I can hit the ground running since I am familiar with OHSAA and OVAC stuff as well as Arbiter and the behind-the-scenes things,” Harkness said. “Obviously, I know that Mark Cook did a great job and will have left things in great shape. That will also allow me to step in and get started right away.”

Along with his eight years as the athletics director at Bridgeport, he also spent five seasons as the girls basketball coach. Prior to coming to Bridgeport, Harkness, who is a 1993 Martins Ferry graduate, coached girls basketball at a variety of levels at Martins Ferry for 12 years.

“Part of the appeal of this was it being where it is,” Harkness said. “I’ve known (football coach) Justin Kropka since we played Bronco baseball together 35 years ago. I’ve been friends with (girls basketball coach) Dave and (baseball coach) Anthony Reasbeck for a long time. I know many of the other coaches, too. Knowing all of the people makes it exciting for me to step in, especially knowing that I am taking over for a guy who did things the right way.”

Harkness isn’t looking to re-invent the wheel in his role. He simply wants to ease the burden for the coaches and do his part to put the Purple Riders’ teams in a position to succeed.

“Ferry has been very successful for a long time in athletics,” Harkness said. “Their sports are in good shape with a bunch of good coaches. I just want to be an asset to those folks and help them to continue to be successful.”

Harkness and his wife, Jodi, have a daughter, Olivia.

Prior to approving Harkness as the new A.D., the board accepted Cook’s resignation. Cook, who was one of the area’s longest-tenured athletic directors had upwards of 25 years of experience between his stops at Barnesville and his three years at Martins Ferry.