Coaches are the unsung heroes of a demanding academic undertaking.
All this plus the logistical tasks of conveying a squad of lively debaters to and from tournaments, a major supervisory responsibility. Coaches have been a factor in making the Chicago program outstanding among the cities of the Urban Debate League. Les Lynn's leadership is acknowledged at the New York May meetings of the cities whose debate projects are funded by George Soros' Open Society Institute. Les and his staff, in this fourth year of the program, have directed the coaches and debaters of the 20 schools through a summer institute and expanding tournament competition. The current year marks the transition to the full assumption of responsibility for the program by the Chicago Board of Education.