Tara Tate is currently in her second year as Director of Debate at Glenbrook South HS, IL. She is currently on the executive board of the National Debate Coaches Association, chair of the Debate Commission for the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association, a member of her NFL District Committee, and a member of the Debate Commission for the Illinois High School Association. Tara was a recipient of the 2002 Acolyte Award, which recognizes the top assistant policy debate coach in the nation.

What was your first NFL experience?
Well, I have been familiar with the NFL since I was a small child because my mom was a speech and debate coach. I actually kept time at tournaments as a child. But, as a freshman competitor, I was entered in the district tournament in DI.

When did you decide to be a teacher and/or coach?
It was kind of a combination of my love for the activity and the death of my father, who was an educator, that led me to re-evaluate my career path. I couldn’t tear myself away from forensics. Seeing the outpouring of students around my father’s death really changed the way that I wanted to contribute to society, and I thought education was the best way to do that.

What is your team philosophy?
Our team philosophy is “never be satisfied”. Both as competitors and individuals, we should always be striving to be better people.

How many hours do you spend with this activity a week?
Typically I travel 5 out of every 6 weekends, but not counting travel time, teaching, or tournaments…I probably spend 4-5 hours a day watching practice rounds or researching, which I guess translates into about 20 hours a week of non-teaching, non-traveling debate coaching time.

What is your vision for the future of the NFL?
I’ve been very excited about the new direction that Scott Wunn is taking us. I think it’s important to continue making ties to the community that relate our students to the public, such as the United Nations Foundation debates this year. I also think providing organizational support for educators is an important facet. For example, the new website jumpstarts curriculum exchanges to keep educators motivated in the activity.

What is exciting about being an NFL coach in the state of Illinois?
First of all, the collegiality amongst the NFL coaches in Illinois is wonderful. Coaches are so supportive of one another. Our students travel out of state together. The National Forensic League provides a mechanism for coaches to come together. They’re wonderful.

What’s unique about Glenbrook South as an NFL chapter?
One thing that’s unique about our program is that our students have the ability to participate at a high level of competition in combination with being a good team member and having good academic performance.

What qualities do you look for when recruiting students for your program?
The students have to show quick critical thinking skills and be able to “play well with others”. You can teach someone debate and how to debate successfully, but it’s hard to teach how to be a good team member. I look for a balance between both of those.

How has the NFL changed since your days as a competitor?
It has definitely gotten larger and more opportunities for students are available. It is hard for me to make a true comparison because I was at a small program when I competed and now I coach a much larger program. It’s like looking at the NFL through a completely different light. A lot of the themes stay constant, but it’s bigger and there’s a lot more community outreach. We’re incorporating more students with more opportunities to compete.

What is your favorite memory from a National Tournament?
It’s both a good and painful memory. In 2002, a program I coached for was in the final round of policy and we lost on a 5-4 decision. The process of dealing with a one ballot loss was interesting. I have a lot of good memories of Nationals, of coming together with people from all over the country.

What is the greatest challenge as a coach today?
Balance. Balancing the time of a personal life and the demands of a job. The teaching, the practice, the travel, hosting your own tournament... and trying to keep all of these aspects a success.

Are there any rituals/lucky traditions that you employ as a coach?
We’re always starting new traditions. It’s important to keep a history of the program so that debaters in the future can look back…yearly scrapbooks, perpetual plaques in the debate office of past presidents of the program and past successes. There’s a lot of reliance on senior leadership…and that ends up becoming a ritual when seniors start realizing that being part of this program is helping younger students. Running a tournament the size of The Glenbrooks is a ritual in itself.

What’s your favorite weekend tournament food item?
I would have to say it’s at the Montgomery Bell Academy tournament, the goo goo clusters.