Coaching staff
Director: David L. Steinberg
Professor Steinberg has been involved in competitive debate since 1971. He began as a high school debater for Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Alabama. He then debated for Auburn University under Director of Forensics, Dr. David A. Thomas. Steinberg received his master's degree in Communication at the University of Tennessee, and began his coaching career at Middle Tennessee State University. In addition to UT and MTSU, Steinberg has coached debate teams at Penn State University, George Mason University, and Towson State University. He has been Director of Debate as a member of the School of Communication faculty at U.M. since 1990.
Steinberg served as President of The Cross Examination Debate during the past year. He is co-author (with Dr. Austin J. Freeley) of the best-selling textbook Argumentation and Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making, 11th Edition (Wadsworth, 2005), and the author of numerous conference papers and articles.
Professor Steinberg can be reached at Dave@miami.edu, or 305-284-5553 (phone), 305-284-3648 (fax).
Assistant Debate Coach: Randall Martinez
Randall is a former debater from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. He has coached several high school programs throughout the years including Christopher Columbus High School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Lake Mary Preparatory, Monsignor Pace High School and Carrollton of the Sacred Heart. As a high school coach he was recognized as a diamond coach by the National Forensic League, coached the Tournament of Champions winner of 2009, and was the assistant director of the Hurricane Debate Institute for the last six years. Currently, Randall is completing his coursework in Communication Studies at the University of Miami and has working papers in the area of identity in collegiate debate, digital movements, and initiation strategies in interpersonal communication. He also serves as the secretary for the forensics and argumentation division of the Southern States Communication Association. Randall can be reached at debatemartinez@gmail.com
Assistant Debate Coach: Joe Graziano
Joe is a former debater for Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He has debated at the collegiate level throughout the country including a first place finish at the James Madison Cup tournament and national championship of the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha national forensics tournament. While in undergraduate, he became the founder of Aristotle's Cafe on the campus of App. State and plans on introducing the philosophical roundtable to the University of Miami campus. Joe is finishing up his graduate work in Communication Studies and has a working paper in the area of relationship initiation strategies in interpersonal communication. Joe can be reached at j.graziano@umiami.edu