#KingChasing Podcast

Willie Williams is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Carolina University. Willie has experience in the NCCAA as both a student-athlete and coach, having played at Nebraska Christian College and Grace University, even playing in and winning an NCCAA National Championship in 2008 with Grace. Willie had successful coaching stints at both Nebraska Christian and Grace before joining Carolina in 2020. He holds two masters degrees, one in education curriculum from Peru State College and another in human performance and physical education with an emphasis on coaching from Adam State University.

In this episode, Willie shares how his experience as an NCCAA student-athlete has shaped him, what he’s learned from other coaches, and how he pursues integrating faith within his team.

Grace Norman won gold in the paratriathlon at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and most recently won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. She currently holds the world records for the 800m and 1,500m in the T44 classification for track & field. Grace is a 2020 graduate of Cedarville University, where she earned NCCAA All-American honors in both cross country and indoor track & field, while also helping the Yellow Jackets win two NCCAA Cross Country National Championships.

In this episode, Grace shares her experiences on the world stage, how she trains both physically and spiritually, and more.

Dr. Matt Webb was named Director of Athletics at Houghton College in the summer of 2018 after previously serving as associate director of athletics and men’s soccer coach. He provides strategic leadership for athletics and intramural sports, and oversees the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which sponsors 18 sports. During his 15 years as head coach, Matt led the Highlanders to 11 postseason appearances, including two NCCAA National Tournaments, and led his teams on five international sports ministry trips. He holds a master’s in higher education from Alfred University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Regent University.

In this episode, Matt shares some of his journey as a leader, the importance of a mentor, and how he’s helped implement the #KingChasing program at Houghton College.

Dr. Vickie Denny is the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Bob Jones University. Vickie has coached at three NCCAA institutions over the course of her nearly 40-year career, including Maranatha Baptist, Clearwater Christian, and currently Bob Jones. Her teams at Maranatha and Clearwater won the NCCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball National Championship fourteen times, including a span of eight years in a row, while her team at Bob Jones is in the midst of a current streak of four straight national titles. In the fall of 2016, Vickie achieved a milestone of 1,000 career college wins, a milestone very few collegiate coaches have reached. She’s been named NCCAA National Coach of the Year six times. She’s served as the Division II Women’s Volleyball National Chair, currently serves on the NCCAA Board of Directors, and was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame in 2005.

  

In this episode, Vickie shares some insight on her team's most recent run at an NCCAA title, how she’s integrated faith into her teams for nearly 40 years, and the importance of identifying student-athletes who can help with faith integration goals.

Kara Farnsworth Lail is the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Columbia International University. She has led her team to three NCCAA National Tournaments and has been named NCCAA South Regional Coach of the Year. In 2018, Kara was named to the United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 Program which is designed to support up-and coming members of the coaching profession who are 30 years of age or younger.

In this episode, Kara discusses her journey as a first-time head coach starting a collegiate soccer program, how she integrates faith into her team, and how she manages work/life balance and mental health challenges.

Justin Lower is a PGA Tour Professional who attended Malone University where he was a four-time NCCAA Men’s Golf All-American, was the 2008 NCCAA Individual Champion, and led Malone to the 2008 NCCAA National Title. He began competing on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2014 and has won the Ohio Open in 2012 and 2015. Lower earned his PGA Tour card in September of this year, securing it on the final hole of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

 

In this episode, Justin walks us through his journey from competing in the Korn Ferry Tour to earning his PGA Tour card, the importance of having a mentor, and we even have fun discussing some NFL football.

  

Dan Wood is the NCCAA Executive Director and has been 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.

In this episode, Dan talks about the new #KingChasing program launched by the NCCAA, how the Game Plan 4 LIFE was created, and practical ways for coaches and athletic directors to integrate faith into their athletic department.