Coaches

Christopher Burk

crb012000@utdallas.edu
Director of Debate
BA, University of Texas at Austin
ABD, University of Texas at Austin

Chris is an experienced coach, judge, and instructor. He has been the head coach at UT Dallas since 2001. He previously coached over a dozen teams to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) as an assistant coach at Texas. Chris also judged the final rounds of major intercollegiate tournaments, including Kentucky and the NDT. He has taught at more than 20 sessions of debate institute, including camps at Michigan State, Stanford, Texas, and the International Debate Academy in Slovenia. His camp students have gone on to win numerous state championships and top speaker awards, including the Top Speaker Award at NFL Nationals. Chris pursued his graduate studies in Government at UT Austin and the Australian National University. He now teaches political science & rhetoric courses at UT Dallas.

Scott Herndon

scott.herndon@utdallas.edu
Assistant Director of Debate/Coach
BA, University of Kansas
MA, Kansas State University

Formerly a coach at Kansas State University, Scott has been at the University of Texas at Dallas since 2002. In that time UTD has qualified for the National Debate Tournament 6 years in a row, reaching the elimination rounds in 2009, maintained a Top 25 national ranking, and reached the elimination debate of CEDA nationals 5 straight years, including a run to the semi-finals in 2009. An experienced instructor and judge Scott has taught at the World Debate Institute, Baylor, International Debate Education Association Conference, and the University of Kansas. Scott has also been recognized as the CEDA Southwest Region Critic of the Year, in 2004 and 2009.

Justin Kirk

Assistant Coach
BA, The University of Texas at Dallas
MA, The University of Texas at Dallas

Justin Kirk was one of UTD’s first debaters where he advanced to the elimination rounds of the CEDA nationals in 2000 and 2001. In 2003 Justin joined the as a full time assistant coach and in that time has coached teams to the late elimination rounds of CEDA and out rounds of the NDT.

Todd Jordan

PhD Graduate Assistant
BA, University of Kansas
MA, The University of Texas at Dallas

Todd qualified three times for the NDT while debating at Kansas and was named a CEDA All-American debater. He coached at the University of Missouri - Kansas City for two years, during which UMKC earned a First Round bid to the NDT and reached the final round of the NDT.

Trevor Andreas

Assistant Coach
BS, The University of Texas at Dallas

Trevor holds a Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Engineering from UT Dallas. In addition to coaching on a volunteer basis, he advises the team on technology issues and helps coordinate research assignments.