2013 Comet Debate Institute Staff
Below are the senior staff members of the 2013 Comet Debate Institute. We will be adding additional staff bios and information as new instructors join the CDI – check back for updates.
Scott Herndon
Associate Director of Debate, UT Dallas
BA, The University of Kansas
MA, Kansas State University
Formerly a coach at Kansas State University, Scott Herndon has been at The University of Texas at Dallas since 2002. In that time, UT Dallas has qualified for the NDT eight years in a row, received invitations to the Kentucky and the Dartmouth Round Robin competitions, and reached the quarterfinals of the NDT in 2010 and the elimination debates of Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) nationals for eight consecutive years. An experienced instructor and judge, he has been a debate camp instructor at the World Debate Institute, Baylor University, International Debate Education Association Conference, The University of Kansas and University of North Texas. Scott was recognized as the CEDA Southwest Region Critic of the Year in 2004 and 2009.
Todd Jordan
Assistant Coach, UT Dallas
BA, The University of Kansas
MPA, UT Dallas
PhD Candidate, UT Dallas School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Todd Jordan 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.
Louie Petit
Assistant Director of Debate, University of North Texas
BA, William Jewell College
MA, Missouri State University
Louie is the Assistant Director of Debate at the University of North Texas. Coach of 2008 National Debate Tournament and Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament Semifinalist, Louie has established himself as one of the nation's top rising collegiate coaches. In just five years, he coached two teams to a First Round At Large Bid to the National Debate Tournament as well as the Top Speaker at the 2008 National Debate Tournament, 2008 CEDA National Tournament, and the 2008 University of Kentucky Tournament. Louie has immense experience working with high school students. He taught at the University of Kansas Jayhawk Debate Institute, Spartan Debate Institute, Missouri State University Debate Institute, and University of Missouri Kansas City Summer Debate Institute.
