Jim Hardman is a 1950 graduate of Wittenburg University where he played baseball and basketball. His first five years of teaching and coaching were in his home town of S. Charleston (now Southeastern). During that period he coached varsity baseball, varsity basketball, and assisted in varsity football. At South Charleston, Jim was District Runnerup one year, District Champ one year, and won 3 league championships in spring and summer baseball.
Next, Jim moved to Piqua High School. During the next 26 years he coached varsity baseball each year, varsity basketball for five years, and once again assisted in football for 10 years. During Jim's tenure at Piqua his baseball teams won 12 league championships, were district runner up one year, and district champs on two occasions.
Jim's High School coaching record finished with 522 wins and 252 losses. Twenty-seven of Jim's players signed professional contracts and forty-four received baseball scholarships. Many others played college baseball. In 1958 Jim coached in the OHSBCA East-West game.
A firm believer that a good coach is also a good classroom teacher, Jim takes great pride in both.