Tom Hardiman played in high school for Trenton Cathedral High, where he was second-team All-State in basketball. Hardiman later played basketball for Canisius College, graduating in 1969. In handball he played circle runner and was on the US team from 1970-72. Hardiman later became a pastor with the MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries, serving at the MorningStar’s Fort Mill Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He had started as a minister in New Jersey before joining MorningStar in 2003. He also coached and did inspirational and motivational speaking.