Bio

With 12 league championships to her credit, Phyllis Hardt's success as head coach of the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team is rivaled by few in the history of the WIAC.

Hardt started her coaching career at UW-Oshkosh in the fall of 1976 by inheriting a relatively young women's gymnastics program. After taking the Titans to an eighth-place finish in 1977 and a fifth-place finish in 1978 at the then-called WWIAC Championships, Hardt began to receive the rewards for hard work.

In 1979, Hardt's gymnastics not only won their first WWIAC championship, but the first WWIAC championship by any UW-Oshkosh athletic team. The 1979 campaign marked the beginning of a dynasty for Hardt's Titans as they would go on to win 12 WWIAC titles over the next 14 years, including nine straight from 1979 to 1987.

UW-Oshkosh also claimed three national titles under Hardt's guidance, winning the AIAW Division III Championship in 1980, the NAIA Championship in 1986 and the NCGA Championship in 1989.

Hardt's team accomplishments are matched with several individual accolades as well. During her tenure at UW-Oshkosh she coached athletes to 23 national and 51 conference event championships. In addition, she was named NCGA Coach of the Year in 1985, NAIA Coach of the Year in 1986 and WWIAC Coach of the Year in 1980, 1982, 1986, 1987 and 1991.

The Denver, Colo., native graduated from Southern Illinois University, where she was a three-time AIAW Division I All-American and a member of the 1973 AIAW Division I national championship team. Following the 1973 season, Hardt was selected as an alternate to the World Games for Team USA.

Hardt resides in Oshkosh, where she has been president and owner of the Oshkosh Gymnastics Center since 1992. Under her leadership at the club, eight gymnasts have qualified for the USAG Junior Olympic Trials.