Two years ago Isthmus profiled Tom Hardin, the drama and forensics coach at Madison Memorial High, after he led his forensics team to its sixth state championship ("Drama King," 5/8/09). On April 16, his school clinched another title, its eighth in 11 years and a record-breaking four in a row.
Abhilash Sandireddy, a junior who won first place for extemporaneous speaking, credits Hardin's volunteer assistant coaches - including Timothy Scheffler, Andrew Gordon and David Olson - with helping make a winning team. And he says Hardin brings out the best in people by being straightforward and strict. "He basically brings it all together and makes sure the organization works." It does.