Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Hardin began his wrestling career in 1975 at Butler High School in Alabama when his Freshman football coach invited him to join the team.  He then wrestled at Avery High School under Phillip Pritchard from 1976 to 1979, qualifying for the state tournament in 1978.  Hardin then attended Appalachian State University where he played football.  After graduating from Appalachian in 1983, he served as a wrestling official and was the assistant wrestling coach at Freedom High School.  In 1985, he became the head coach at Eastern Randolph High School.  Over the next 22 years, Hardin’s teams would amass a dual meet record of 308-128, capture team state championships in 1993, 1999, and 2000, and finish as state runner-up in 2001 and 2004.  Additionally, Hardin’s teams won regional championships in 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 along with ten conference championships.  Hardin was named “Mat News” coach of the year in 1993 and 1999.  He coached 91 state qualifiers, 18 state finalists, and 12 state champions while at Eastern Randolph.  Hardin also coached football at Eastern Randolph and Lee County for 30 years, winning a state championship with the Wildcats in 2006.  He also directed seven regional tournaments and dozens of invitational, conference, AAU, USA Wrestling, and youth tournaments.  Retiring as a head coach at Eastern Randolph in 2007, Hardin has remained active in wrestling, serving as head coach at Southeastern Randolph Middle School (2008-09) and as an assistant at Lee County High School (2012-14).