CHARACTER UP: The intersection of life, leadership, and sports

Building a program is difficult. Building a culture can be impossible. Success in one could be based on wins while the other is evident by the character of the players in the program. Josh Henderson spent the past decade essentially rebuilding the football program at Grace Brethren HS, racking up 7 league titles, 2 CIF-Southern Section championships, 1 CIF-State title, and nearly 100 victories over that time. Now in the midst of a COVID-shortened spring season, one that will be last at Grace Brethren, Henderson talks about the importance of cultivating a culture of discipleship, trust, commitment, and sacrifice. His legacy has been and will continue to be one of discipleship with his players. What else would you expect from this son of a preacher.

Sometimes a sports moment can steal the spotlight from a great career, especially when that moment amounts to one of the biggest shots in school history. Cameron Mills hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the Bluegrass” in Kentucky’s Elite 8 win over Duke during the Wildcats’ 1998 National Championship run, a truly shining moment for the Kentucky native and for all of Big Blue Nation. This moment didn’t define Mills’ career, it was simply a divine appointment for the walk-on who spent four years doing what God gave him the ability to do before doing what God called him to do. Through ministry (Cameron Mills Ministries) and media (Cameron Mills Radio), the two-time NCAA champion is living out his calling while giving back and staying connected to the basketball fans that loved him.

Football in Texas is just a little different than it is anywhere else. In the Morgan household, football was truly woven into the very fabric of the family. Whether it was how to run a wishbone offense or simply put on pads in the front yard and work out their differences, Barry Morgan ensured that their two boys, Beau and Blane, used football as a means to navigate through life and become disciplined and accomplished Godly men. Barry and Beau team up on this father/son episode to talk about their head coach/QB relationship, Beau’s record-setting career at Air Force, and his NFL & XFL days. Beau and Barry have had the opportunity to team up again in building a football program at Beacon Hill Classical Academy and they reflect on that opportunity as well as the differences in coaching now vs. over two decades ago.

Golf is hard. Imagine if your well-being depended on your performance on the golf course. Now imagine that the well-being of your family also depends on your pursuit of those golf dreams. How’s that for added pressure, as you stand over your ball sizing up a 6- foot putt for birdie? Jared Wolfe has been chasing his dreams for over a decade, and he’s now on the doorstep of the PGA. Hear how his faith and total support from his wife and daughter have given him the longevity to climb the ranks in the Korn Ferry Tour and have him poised to take the next step of playing on the PGA Tour.

Have you ever been in a great situation, looked around, and asked yourself, “How did I ever get here? How am I so fortunate?” Tommy Kyle, Executive Director of Nations of Coaches, seems to ask himself those questions a lot. A true example of how anyone from any walk of life can be used to make an impact for “The Master Coach”, Tommy has humbly said yes to any opportunity God has orchestrated to spread the gospel through sports. From mission trips while playing at Tennessee Temple University, to serving as a missions director for SCORE International, to now leading NCAA basketball coaches on a journey to combine their profession with their profession of faith, Tommy’s story of impacting the lives of some of the most notable coaches, players, and programs across college basketball is definitely worth your time.

Coach, teacher, actor, and author, Greg Hayes shares his experiences of learning from the greatest coach there ever was. That’s a pretty bold statement and you may have your doubts until you learn it’s John Wooden he’s referring to. Greg cut his coaching teeth at John Wooden’s basketball camps, eventually earning his way up to be one of top assistants at those camps with the Wizard of Westwood. After nearly three decades of success at the high school level, Greg has spent the last 8 years coaching collegiately at The Master’s University and he is currently an assistant for the women’s basketball program there. Listen as Greg shares how the profound influence John Wooden had as a coach, teacher, and man of faith is still evident today. And if he weren’t already busy enough, he’s also the author of three books, one of which is a collection of memories and lessons Greg learned from Coach Wooden all those years ago.

Here is a link to his Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Hayes/e/B01BU954IC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Now in his 12th season as men’s basketball coach at Hope International University, Bill Czech has experienced a year unlike any other. With a basketball schedule that, like so many other aspects of our lives currently, defines uncertainty, Bill has a profound perspective on the importance of getting closer to Christ as safety protocols and recovery from his battle with COVID-19 have gotten him further from being on the hardwood with his team. Bill has dealt with personal tragedy and loss in a way that will truly inspire you and has inspired his players to do something that will impact others.

Part 2 of our conversation with Rudy Kalis. Did you think memories of a career in sports media that has spanned nearly 50 years could be contained to one episode? In Part 2, Rudy talks about what he has done since retiring from WSMV in 2017. He shares his testimony and talks about serving in prison ministry as a spiritual mentor with Men of Valor (men-of-valor.org).

Rudy Kalis has lived a life most people in sports broadcasting only dream of. Through 43 years of walking into in homes across Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Alabama via a TV set on Nashville’s local nightly news, Rudy became known as one of the most humble, meek, and simply nicest people in sports media. From Sunday afternoons with the Titans to Friday night football stadiums across the WSMV viewing area, Rudy took the time to make other people feel important. Listen and find out if always being in the right place at the right time was key to Rudy’s success or was it because he made the most of divine opportunities and helped the audience see beyond just a helmet or a jersey.

Not many QB’s in college football hold down their starting job all four years. At Florida State, there’s been only one 4-year starting QB in program history, and that’s Chris Rix. While Chris seemingly had a career full of accomplishments, and one blessed by playing for a hall of fame coach like Bobby Bowden, it came with it’s fair share of humbling moments. In reality, Chris’s life was full of setbacks, challenges, and even tragedy. Listen as Chris Rix, currently a football analyst for radio and television and a Director of Ministries for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, shares how he was humbled because he failed to be humble on his own, and how God has given him the opportunity to steer other young athletes away from the mistakes he made.