#KingChasing Podcast

Dan Wood has been the NCCAA Executive Director since 2000. With over 35 years of service in higher education, Dan has been a coach, faculty member, and athletic administrator at Limestone College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. He’s been inducted into Southern Wesleyan’s Hall of Fame as a student-athlete and Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Hall of Fame as a coach and athletic director. He has written for a variety of publications on subjects ranging from student-athlete recruitment to population diversity in faith-based institutions.

This episode features a portion of a presentation by Dan at the 2023 NCCAA Convention, where he shares about sustained excellence and the unified mission of believers.

Rick McKinley is the Director of International Tours with Missionary Athletes International (MAI). Rick has been with MAI for 37 years in various roles and ministries, including with the Southern California Seahorses, Charlotte Eagles, and the Chicago Eagles. He has led over 40 soccer mission trips to 25 different countries and helped start a two-month sports ministry experience that has discipled soccer players from over 80 different colleges and universities.

In this episode, Rick shares about his experience serving with MAI, life-changing stories from mission trips, and his time as an NCCAA chaplain.

Mark Whitworth is the VP for Intercollegiate Athletics & University Communications at Asbury University. Under Mark’s leadership, Asbury became members of NCAA DIII and the NCCAA, had several student-focused enhancements to athletics facilities, and was named the NCCAA’s #KingChasing Institution of the Year this past year. Prior to Asbury, Mark served on the Southeastern Conference staff for 27 years in roles that include Director of Media Relations and Associate Commissioner for External Affairs. He participated in the SEC’s media rights negotiations with ESPN and CBS, which also resulted in the launch of the SEC Network.

In this episode, Mark shares about his time working in the SEC, Asbury’s over two-week long revival, and ways that he integrates Christ within the athletic department.

Kristin Steele is the head women’s volleyball coach for OUAZ. Kristin has coached at the junior college, NAIA, and NCCAA level for 26 seasons and has a career record of 541-324. She’s led her teams to seven national tournament appearances and has been named conference coach of the year five times. Prior to coaching, Kristin had a standout career as a player at the University of Central Oklahoma and was named to the Broncho Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

In this episode, Kristin shares about the keys to building a program from scratch, how she integrates faith within her team, and how her relationship with Christ influences the way she coaches.

Michelle Lenard is the head women’s soccer coach for Baylor University. Michelle spent 14 years as head coach at Dallas Baptist University where she amassed a 200-77-26 record, while leading the Patriots to 13 conference championships, an NCCAA National Championship, and an NCAA Division II Final Four appearance. She’s earned several conference coach of the year awards along with the United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021.

In this episode, Michelle shares about her journey to Baylor, the success she experienced at DBU, and how she’s Preparing Champions for Life.

Drue Tranquill is a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. Drue played college football at Notre Dame from 2014-2018 and helped lead the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 regular season in 2018. That year he was awarded the Wuerffel Trophy for his exemplary community service. Drue was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers and finished his four-year stint there with a career-year in 2022, tallying 144 tackles which was 12th in the NFL, before signing with the Chiefs this offseason.

In this episode, Drue shares about his time at Notre Dame, why serving the community is important, and how he’s stayed grounded in his faith through his NFL career.

Ben Bost is the founder and primary speaker of AIM Awareness. His passion is helping people live meaning-filled lives. For over a decade, Ben has mentored world-class professional athletes and business leaders, guiding them through personal and professional issues. He brings a deep creative aesthetic and philosophical approach to every engagement that assists organizations with how to practically adapt to our rapidly changing mental health landscape.

In this episode, Ben shares about the mental health crisis in Western society, strategies for overcoming mental health challenges, and the importance of a Biblical foundation for mental health education.

Chris Williams is the Director of Championships at the NCCAA. Chris’ journey in the NCCAA started over 30 years ago as a student-athlete at Roberts Wesleyan College, now Roberts Wesleyan University. He then coached at Roberts Wesleyan before transitioning to Southern Wesleyan University as the Director of Athletics. While at Southern Wesleyan, Chris guided a transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, major facility construction, and the addition of several new programs.

In this episode, Chris shares about his time as a coach and administrator, how he made Christ a priority in his athletic department, and his mental health journey.

Paul Hembekides, is an ESPN content producer known as “Hembo.” The 2012 Cedarville University graduate was a baseball student-athlete and played in three NCCAA World Series. Hembo first joined ESPN in 2014 and went on to become the on-air researcher for the Mike & Mike show, hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. Hembo helped launch “Get Up!”, an ESPN morning show hosted by Greenberg and has earned a reputation as a sports trivia guru.

In this episode, Hembo shares about his time as a baseball student-athlete at Cedarville, his journey to ESPN, and how he stays grounded in his faith.

Malik Chevry is the defensive backs coach for Anderson University’s football team. Malik has several years of experience coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels. He joined Anderson’s staff in 2022 and is helping to build a brand new program that kicks off in 2024. Prior to coaching, Malik played football collegiately at Southeastern University, while earning his bachelor’s degree in sport management.

In this episode, Malik shares about when he realized his passion for coaching, his experience helping build a football team from scratch, and how the coaching staff plans to integrate Christ within the team.