In the finale of our On the Bucket series, Coach Craig Lukins closed out his story with wisdom for every coach, athlete, and leader who’s ever wondered what truly lasts beyond the game.

At the core of Liberty Christian football are three guiding values:

Create leaders. 

Cultivate men. 

Capture hearts.

“We want to teach servant leadership. If they walk out of here and remember that, it’s all worth it.”

From seniors serving freshmen at team meals to coaches leading by example, Craig models the kind of leadership that builds husbands, fathers, and men of integrity.

Reflecting on last year’s state championship defeat, Craig’s message stayed rooted in faith and perspective.

“Our value is not found in a game. It’s found in the Lord.”

For him, even loss becomes a lesson—a reminder that growth often comes through struggle, and that success is measured in character, not championships.

Craig’s advice to young coaches is simple but powerful:

“Grow where you’re planted.”

He reminds others to focus less on chasing titles and more on cherishing the day-to-day—the practices, the relationships, the quiet moments that build lasting impact.

Coach Lukins’ story is a picture of what happens when calling meets conviction—when coaching becomes more than a career, and sport becomes a vehicle for transformation.

That’s what Inning Intermissions is all about — pausing the game long enough to hear the stories that remind us why sports matter. Every conversation reveals something deeper: confidence built through competition, friendships forged in the grind, and lessons that last far beyond the scoreboard.

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