After four decades of coaching high school and collegiate athletes I've finally been afforded the time and opportunity to reflect upon my career. There were many great moments coaching hundreds of fine young men and women. I had the experience of coaching 16 bowl eligible football teams and two final four women's basketball teams. Whatever success we experienced, the athletes that always remained at the forefront of my mind are those who were troubled. Those who you wish you might have somehow impacted whereby they would have been saved or at least had a more productive experience. Those who needed more specific and intense guidance. Over the course of my career at the collegiate level the issues became glaringly more common.
Athletes who developed negative feelings because they felt cheated out of playing time from not having the patience necessary to earn reps or possibly having legitimate concerns.
Those who were preoccupied with trying to help with financial obligations with the family back home or taking care of a child.
Those who are repeatedly suspended or eliminated for violations of team rules.
Those who had difficulty relating to authority or possibly felt mistreated in some respect.
Those who experienced problems with alcohol or repeatedly tested positive for drugs.
Those who had thoughts of harming themselves.
Those who were gunned down in a club or in the streets.
I was witness to every one of these situations and some dozens of times. The results were many times heartbreaking, knowing from my own experiences that opportunity only knocks so many times.
This team is being established for the purpose of spiritual development, promoting positive mental health and the availability of performance training. It is a team of incredible human beings that crossed paths with me as their coach, mentor, teammate, or friend. They are resources for leadership, edification, council, education, and support. We hope to be an oasis for any young athlete experiencing these common struggles.
This is a “special operation” requiring knowledge of the Word. That is why we have five seasoned pastors on our team. We have no reservation toward a commitment to spiritual warfare for the expressed purpose of saving lives through bringing those lives to Jesus Christ.
This is a free service with specific objectives potentially reaching wide and far. Thank you.