Serving a Team in a Very Successful Season

The eleventh season of my service of a college football team was one I will never forget. It was the fourth season with that particular coaching staff, having been 1 and 10, 2 and 10, and 4 and 8 in the previous seasons. Suddenly in mid-November we were 10 and 0, nationally ranked, and surely headed to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for the first time in twenty-one years.

 

After an exciting, last second, loss on the road, I was in my seat on the bus waiting to go to the airport for the flight home. I sat there stunned, not knowing how to process all this. The head coach looked across the aisle at me and said, “Hey, are you okay?” I said, “Coach, I had forgotten what it feels like to lose.” Ten weeks of winning had erased my memory of years of painful loss. Success has the power to do that.

 

Winning teams feel like they’re invincible.

·      They tell themselves, “We win even when we don’t play well.”

·      They think “We must be really good.”

·      They marvel at themselves, “We win even when our best players are not at 100%!”

·      Momentum is a real and wonderful for these teams.

 

Winning teams are vulnerable to debilitating hubris.

·      They find themselves full of entitlement to privilege and position.

·      They take on elitist attitudes toward others, obviously lesser than they.

·      Their sudden elevation to celebrity serves them poorly.

·      Their locker room can easily become stratified, separating the stars from the role players.

·      They are perfectly positioned for a humiliating defeat. (The Football Salukis, nursing our wounds from the end of our winning streak, played the University of Delaware in the first round of the playoffs. We were crushed 48-7. Ouch.)

 

We, the Character Coaches, maintain perspective.

·      We love extravagantly. Our loyalty is valued, even when wildly successful. We seek out those not in the spotlight, the walk on player, the support staff, and others.

·      We serve selflessly. Our consistency in service is noticed when the prevailing culture becomes entitlement and privilege.

·      We encourage. In winning streaks, encouragement by asking good questions makes a difference. Ask about matters away from sport – family, class, relationships, teammates, and faith.

 

This season of success will not last forever, though we wish it would. Maintain perspective. Help them see over, through, and beyond the present swell of awesomeness. Success is secondary to who they are as men and women.

Growth and Development follow Failure and Frustration

While recently reflecting upon my life’s path across sixty-eight years, I realized most of my growth and development, personal and professional, came as a result of failure and frustration. A few examples follow.

 

After being laid off from my job as a laborer in a lumber yard at age twenty-four, I found a job in a home center and after four more years, a job with a wholesale building materials distributor, then another retailer, followed by two more sales jobs. Being laid off from a job with a hard ceiling led to new employment with room to grow.

 

After one year of absolute, total failure in selling garages, I was in position to take a paid role as an administrative assistant to my mentor in ministry (Fred Bishop of No Greater Love Ministries). It took all of that year of horrible failure and financial stress to have my wife and me ready to take a very modest salary. My ambitious nature was energized by the commission sales job, but it’s a stressful existence for the whole family when sales are not good.

 

After four years of accelerated growth and development in ministry, the ministry’s funds were diminishing to a level that would soon lead to my departure. At the same time, an opportunity to serve with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) was emerging. At thirty-eight years of age, I was finally prepared to enter the calling I had perceived when I was just sixteen. This new opportunity launched me into twenty-seven years of service with FCA, including many challenges, significant growth, and development in a myriad of ways.

 

In 2021, having discovered the centrality of sports chaplaincy to my passion for ministry in sport, my wide list of responsibilities with FCA became a source of frustration. The form of ministry to which I was most committed and in which I experienced the greatest fruit was on the edges of my ministry, it was not central. Having lived in this tension for several years, I was most intrigued when leaders from Nations of Coaches contacted me regarding their Character Coach Director role. I was interested, then attentive, then engaged, and ultimately hired just days before my sixty-fifth birthday.

 

Now, three years into this new role, I am experiencing more fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction than ever. I cannot see the end of this path, but I am quite sure the next bends in the road will be preceded by either failure of frustration, and possibly both. I am equally confident an even better season of growth and development will follow, and will be entirely worth every moment of the process.

 

In summary: failure and frustration are never pleasant; neither are they permanent. One must allow the Lord room to move in the pain and doubt to confirm his calling, and to direct your steps forward into continuing growth and development.

 

Serving a Team Through a Losing Season

Across my thirty years of serving collegiate sports teams, I have endured two 1 win & 10 loss seasons, one 2 win & 10 loss seasons, many sub .500 seasons, and some painfully long losing streaks. In addition, seven of the coaches I served were fired at season’s end. As Jesus was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, I am certainly acquainted with the pain of losing seasons.

 

For anyone in the sporting environment, enduring a losing streak of a few games is painful. Imagine an entire season of more than thirty games with the gnawing, gut-wrenching ache of consistently coming up short on the scoreboard. It’s awful.

 

The local or national media pile on, question and criticize. Worse, social media is even more sudden and brutal in its assassination of everyone and everything related to the team. They have no clue as to how the trend can be reversed, but they offer their ridiculous solutions anyway. Usually it sounds like, “Fire the coach!”

 

We can even begin to doubt ourselves and our value to the team. Coaches begin to brush up their resumes, anticipating the worst. Players consider transferring from the program, imagining greener pastures elsewhere. Some coaches and players contemplate leaving the game entirely. The once gleaming fortune of competing in collegiate sport has lost its luster. Despair chokes the life from these once courageous hearts.

 

I’m their character coach, what am I supposed to do in this swirling vortex of loss and despair? I will do these simple and basic things:

·      I will maintain perspective. I will endeavor to see through, above, and beyond all these strong and confusing emotions.

·      I will love extravagantly – my loyalty is valued.

·      I will serve selflessly – my consistency builds trust.

·      I will encourage constantly – my voice makes a difference. I will offer no criticism, nor suggestions related to strategy or tactics. I will encourage effort and attitude with my voice, on paper, via text messages, in gesture, in body language, in every way I can imagine – I will encourage.

 

This season of losing will not last forever, I promise. Changes in personnel are likely to occur. It will be painful and grievous, but things will improve. In the meantime; maintain perspective, love, serve, and encourage.

Perspective Amidst Sporting Chaos

Recent changes in collegiate sport enhance the value of character coaches and sports chaplains to their coaches and athletes. With the advent of the transfer portal and the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness payments to players, much of the sporting landscape has dramatically shifted in the past few years.

 

Below are some of the factors leading to this season of chaos.

·      College athletes are now virtually free to transfer between institutions at will, as many times as they like, without restriction. This has led to some players being on four or more teams in a span of five seasons.

·      Coaches could always move between institutions at will, so everyone advocating for the athletes is happier with this change.

·      Name, Image, and Likeness money being paid to players has made collegiate sport, formerly embracing an amateur ethic, is now at the highest levels in fact professional sport.

·      Professionalism in sport brings a totally different approach, and veterans to the process who were raised in the amateur ethic, are enduring a harsh adjustment period.

o   Collegiate sport has always been populated by both transactional (100% results oriented) and transformational (process and people oriented) coaches.

o   The injection of professionalism is making the players more transactional than even the most bottom-line oriented coaches I have known.

o   Many players being recruited now have this as their first question for a coach, “How much are you going to give me?” The process is transactional from the start.

 

Here are a few of the characteristics that make character coaches and sports chaplains of greater value than ever.

·      We provide perspective in a volatile environment. Christian men and women serving sports teams have the unique ability to see through, above, and beyond the thick cloud of money, celebrity, noise, ambition, sycophantic fans, and hangers on. Biblical examples like Moses, Jesus, and the apostles provide us models to follow and principles to embody.

·      We don’t want anything from them, but God’s best intentions for each one. We don’t want to be their agent, to sell them anything, to get their endorsement, or to even shoot a selfie. They find this remarkably refreshing. It builds trust and relationship.

·      We love those on the move. Whether they be players transferring out, coaches climbing the sporting ladder, or coaches being fired, we love them. We welcome the newly arriving players and coaches to our institution, to our community, and to our family. We sail with coaches adrift in a career typhoon, searching for direction and purpose.

·      We love those who stay. We certainly prefer the longer, developmental, and relational approach to our relationships with people in sport. Given more time, our relationships deepen and grow stronger. We help build legacies with the coaches and long-term players. We help build families. As we are afforded relationships across multiple years, we find ourselves at graduation ceremonies, weddings, baby showers, and other joyous events. We occasionally also bear the more grievous burden of walking with coaches and athletes through injury, illness, loss, and death. In short, we love extravagantly.

 

Collegiate Sport has undergone a number of changes in recent years and I seriously doubt it will ever return to its former nature. In fact, I would imagine there are more, possibly even more drastic changes just on the horizon.

 

All these changes, all the chaos, all the transactional attitudes, and even the crass focus on finances only serves to build the value of character coaches and sports chaplains. When we serve wisely and well, we are immensely valuable to the coaches and competitors. When we love extravagantly and serve selflessly, when we honor Christ by emulating Him, we are these people’s greatest allies and most trusted friends.

The Seasonal Rhythm of College Basketball

College Basketball has a distinct rhythm to its annual march through the calendar. Like a symphony has varying movements with particular moods, sounds, levels of intensity, and volume, so does the rhythm of college basketball ebb and flow like the tide.

 

The following paragraphs describe the nature of each portion of the year for the coaches and players. You will certainly perceive how our opportunities for faithful and effective service as character coaches follow and sometimes even lead the team through these changes.

 

Summer – June through early August.

·      The focus is, “Get to know you.”

·      The primary activities are recruiting and summer workouts.

·      New coaches arrive on campus.

·      New players arrive as well (sometimes many).

·      They have approximately eight hours of formal workouts, plus individual workouts.

·      If afforded the opportunity to meet with the team, focus on building relationships.

 

Preseason – mid-August through early November.

·      The focus is, “Get ready.”

·      From August through most of September, they have approximately eight hours of formal workouts, plus individual workouts.

·      From the third week of September forward, they are allowed twenty hours per week of formal workouts, plus individual workouts.

·      This period sets the primary rhythm of how practices will be for the remainder of the season.

·      Build relationships with everyone at practices.

·      This period is perfect for both values-based and faith-based character moments. Work with the head coach to discuss subject matter, scheduling, and duration of each session.

 

Non-conference season – early November through late December.

·      The focus is, “Who are we?”

·      Coaches use these games to discern what kind of team they have.

·      Lots of players will get playing time. This is a period of testing, proving, and discovery for coaches.

·      In this portion of the season, the process is very important and winning is secondary.

·      We do well to observe and perceive things about relationships, communication, and attitudes, especially at practice and after games.

·      Game day character moments, especially faith-based ones, are often a good fit from here and throughout the season (if the head coach approves).

 

Conference season – late December through early March.

·      The focus is, “Win now!”

·      Once this begins, there is a palpable rise in intensity, pressure, and urgency about everything.

·      The coaches and key players will especially be dealing with the spike in pressure.

·      Fewer players will be getting playing time. Their diminished time in games can sour attitudes and will have some of them considering the transfer portal.

·      These games and the resulting table of wins and losses in conference play will determine the seeding of the conference tournament at season’s end.

·      One’s seed in that tournament determines the relative difficulty or ease for winning the tournament and receiving the conference’s automatic bid into NCAA, NAIA, Juco, or other national tournaments, soon to follow.

 

Postseason – early March through mid-April.

·      The focus is, “Win or go home.”

·      The conference tournament is single elimination. If you lose, your season is over.

·      The national tournaments are single elimination. If you lose, your season is over.

·      Some players will announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal.

·      Some coaches will leave for positions with other teams, or leave the game entirely.

·      Some coaches will get fired.

·      Our ministry approach with any and all of the situations arising in this portion of the season must be:

o   Be present as much as possible. Especially if eliminated from a tournament. This is ministry in the pain of loss.

o   Be a source of perspective for everyone. Some careers are ending, others are just beginning, and every team except the champion feels the grief of losing.

o   Love the people. These moments will alternately reveal the best and worst of those you serve. Love them through the intensity of this situation.

 

Off-season – End of season through early June.

·      The focus is, “Start over.”

·      The head coach will do evaluation meetings with his coaching staff, players, and support staff.

·      Believe it or not, some players will be in the gym the day after being eliminated from the postseason tournament.

·      Coaches will be recruiting and scouring the transfer portal for players to bring to the team.

·      This is the least intensive time of the season and about the only time players get to rest their bodies.

·      This is the perfect time to meet with the head coach to evaluate your service of the team, to offer to serve in more ways, and to receive some feedback. Don’t miss this opportunity.

 

In summary: each portion of the college basketball calendar has a unique flavor and it weaves a tapestry of complex relationships, team dynamics, wins and losses, success and failure, joy and grief. It’s life. We who serve as character coaches are immensely privileged to walk with these people. Let’s properly respect the opportunity and fulfill God’s purposes for it.

 

A Character Coach’s Pregame Prayer

Many of us serving as character coaches with college basketball teams have, or certainly want to have, opportunities to pray with the team prior to the start of games. It is a profound privilege when one is enabled to do this, so we must be sure to do it wisely and well. The following questions and proposed answers are my attempt to help us all consider how to best shape this opportunity to engage the coaches and players with our Lord, and to shape their understanding of Christ-honoring sport.

 

For what should we pray?

·      First and foremost, let’s pray this competition honors God by how we play basketball.

·      Should I pray that we win the game? I would say, “No.” Rather, pray for the following factors leading to competing well:

o   Pray for an excellent performance by each and all.

o   Pray for safety for all participants.

o   Pray that players and coaches exercise self-control (and other characteristics in keeping with honorable sport).

o   Pray for good teamwork.

o   Pray for the team’s leadership.

·      Pray that everyone maintains wise and healthy perspective, whether they win or lose.

 

For whom should we pray?

·      Pray for the Coaches, by name and responsibility.

·      Pray for the Players, by name and role.

·      Pray for the Support staff, by name and responsibility.

·      Pray for the opposing team, coaches and players. Yes, I am serious.

·      Pray for the officials. They are the third team on the floor.

 

Where should we pray?

·      Pray at home before you go to the competition venue.

·      Pray in transit to the venue.

·      Pray in the locker room, if you are expressly invited.

·      Pray in the coach’s office, if you are expressly invited.

·      Pray in your seat, as you watch the team warm up.

 

Should I inform people of how I am praying?

·      Yes, if appropriate and welcomed. Simple expressions like, “I am praying for you like this, _____.”

·      Send the coaches and/or players a text message with your prayer for them.

·      Prepare a hand written card to deliver in hand, to be placed on desks, or in lockers.

·      Send a direct message through a social media platform.

·      Be very careful about publishing prayers on social media publicly, so as to not damage your relationships.

 

Please take advantage of your opportunity to pray for and possibly with the team in the pregame hours. Matthew 6:9-13 is a great place to start.

4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity

 Please see the information below on the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity coming up in late July of 2025. This is a very unique opportunity for those of us who are not in academia to rub shoulders with the smart kids, and it's an opportunity for them to learn from us, the ones doing ministry in sport at the ground level.

Details are available here - https://truettseminary.baylor.edu/programs-centers/faith-sports-institute/global-congress-sport-and-christianity

Below are links to forms for information about conference themes and for submission of a presentation, paper, or to participate in a panel discussion. Please look it over and prayerfully consider contributing to this outstanding conference. I have attended and presented at each of the first three. I find them to be richly rewarding and an important part of my professional development. Thanks.

Please mark your calendars and make plans to join the Faith and Spots Institute on July 31- August 2 in Waco, Texas, as they host the fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity (GCSC).  

Since 2016, the GCSC has brought together a wide range of people who are passionate about exploring sports and Christianity in a deeper way. From scholars and academics to coaches and athletic directors to pastors and sports ministers (and more), the GCSC provides an interdisciplinary and collaborative space for meaningful dialogue and conversation. 

2025 marks the fourth GCSC and the Faith & Sports Institute is proud to host the event at Truett Seminary in collaboration with the Sport.Faith.Life initiative, Ridley Hall, and other partners.

Keynote speakers will be announced in the coming months. Those interested in contributing to the conversation are encouraged to submit a proposal to have their research, scholarship, and/or reflection on sport and Christianity featured. 

Please see the Call for Presentations (CFP) here:

CFP

To submit a presentation, please use this form: 

Submit Presentation

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, January 31, 2025. Conference registration will open in February 2025, and letters of acceptance or rejection will be sent by March 15, 2025. If you have questions about the proposal process, please visit our FAQ page.

Additional details will be provided in the coming weeks with more information about a pre-conference event for women in sports that will happen on July 31, 2025.

In the meantime, learn more about the vision for the GCSC by listening to this podcast conversation with Paul E. Putz, PhD, director of the Faith and Sports Institute. Be sure to follow the Sport. Faith. Life. podcast and website for thoughtful conversations at the intersection of sports and Christianity.