In high school, Madden played basketball and baseball at Water Valley, Mississippi, before graduating in 1952. He continued his basketball and baseball career at Northwest Mississippi Junior College for two years (1952-54) and William Carey (1954-56). Madden became head basketball coach at White Plains High School during the 1958-59 school year and coached at White Plains continuously through the 1975-76 season.

During the years Madden coached at White Plains, White Plains was the smallest high school in Calhoun County but regularly competed effectively with larger schools. Madden’s 1962-63 White Plains team was 27-5, including three wins over Saks and three wins over Jacksonville. In the 1973-74 season, the Wildcats reached the AHSAA Class 1A semifinals before losing to eventual state champion East Perry and ending 24-4. That team defeated Alexandria three times, Saks twice, Piedmont twice and Jacksonville once. Losses came to Munford, Piedmont and Jacksonville.

Madden’s teams also enjoyed success in the Calhoun County basketball tournament. White Plains was third in the county tournament in 1963, defeating Jacksonville in the consolation game. The Wildcats finished second in 1964, falling to Oxford in the championship game. White Plains reached the semifinals in 1971 and was “Little Six” county tournament runner-up in 1974. The Wildcats finished fourth in 1962 and 1976.

In 1962, Madden’s team was Sixth District South tournament champion. The Wildcats finished the Sixth District South tournament as runner-up in 1963. The following year the Alabama High School Athletic Association abandoned the district tournament format and moved to area tournament play. Under Madden, White Plains won area tournament titles in 1964, 1974 and 1976. The Wildcats were area runners-up four seasons.

Overall, Madden’s varsity teams at White Plains were 338-151, including seven 20-win seasons and only two losing seasons. After retiring from coaching following the 1975-76 season, Madden served as a basketball official for more than ten years.