Character Coach / Sports Chaplain Blog

  The 2022-2023 Herman Robinson Character Coach Award was presented by Nations of Coaches Character Coach Director, Roger Lipe, to Dr.  Valerie  Burrell, Character Coach for Bluefield University Men's Basketball. This award is presented annually to one Nations of Coaches Character Coach who has demonstrated at least five years of faithful and excellent service to a college basketball program. Valerie was selected from among her over one hundred fifty colleagues across the United States. Valerie received the award during the Bluefield College Athletics awards event, The Rammies, on campus Monday evening. Earlier in the evening Nations of Coaches hosted a team dinner for Bluefield University Basketball coaches, players, administrators, and the university president. The informal dinner was followed by inspirational and heartfelt expressions of thanks for Dr. Burrell's service. This award was first given to (posthumously) and named after Herman Robinson in...

  Report from the WBCA Convention at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Dallas, Texas. 30 March through 2 April, 2023 The Nations of Coaches (NOC) ministry at the WBCA Convention began by setting up the NOC booth in the exhibition area. Coach Kelly Kennedy and her daughters set up the entire booth as Roger Lipe’s flight from St. Louis, MO was delayed by nine hours. He finally arrived at the convention hotel at 11:30 pm. From 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday, Kelly and Roger were at the booth meeting with hundreds of coaches from across the nation. The coaches loved our gifts of Fox 40 whistles, pens, note pads, and whiteboard markers, each bearing the NOC logo. They were intrigued by our cards with information on the Coaches Edge, set for Saturday morning, as well as the FCA worship service and Kay Yow Breakfast set for Sunday. We enjoyed strong partnership with our ministry teammates from Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. On the edges of our formal service at t...