Harold Vaughn attended Lafayette Jefferson High School from 1970 to 1973 and as a three-sport athlete. He lettered three times in the sports of track and field, basketball and football. In the 1973 IHSAA State Meet, he set the record with a jump of 24-3 1/4 and had three jumps over 24-0 in the meet.
He accepted an athletic scholarship to Purdue University and improved his long jump to 25-3 1/4 and had a 49-11 3/4 triple jump. In his senior year, he was a co-captain, presented the Incentive Award for Scholastic Achievement, and the Red Mackey Award.
He accepted a teaching and coaching position with Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. His coaching career produced two state runner-up teams, one in 1992 and another in 2002. In 2004, his team won the state championship.