Barbara Ehardt

Barbara Dee Ehardt (born February 29, 1964) is an American politician and former college basketball coach. A member of the Republican Party, she has served in the Idaho House of Representatives for the 33rd district since 2017. Previously, Ehardt was a high school and college basketball coach from 1987 to 2003, including three seasons as women's basketball head coach at Cal State Fullerton from 2000 to 2003.

Early life and education Ehardt was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1964. After graduating from Idaho Falls High School in 1983, she earned an associate degree in general studies from North Idaho College in 1985 and a Bachelor of Science degree in English and language arts education from Idaho State University in 1988. In her senior season of 1986–87 under head coach Mark French, Ehardt played in 20 games, averaging 1.0 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.

Coaching career In the 1987–88 season, Ehardt was an assistant coach at Pocatello High School. Winning only one game in her first season, Ehardt had a 12–72 record as head coach in three seasons. As announced by Cal State Fullerton on March 12, 2003, following a 7–21 season, Ehardt's contract expired without a renewal on March 31, 2003.

In 2003, Ehardt returned to Idaho Falls, where she has since operated a sports camp for children and managed basketball programs.

Ehardt was appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives on December 27, 2017. In November 2019, Ehardt was labelled "a Republican lightning rod" by East Idaho News. During her first term in the House, she authored a bill that would restrict statewide sex education.

In the legislature, Ehardt sponsored a bill that would required transgender athletes to play on teams corresponding to the gender they were assigned at birth. The bill has attracted significant criticism, both within Idaho and nationally. Ehardt was interviewed as a part of the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, in which she defended the bill.

Head coaching record