Faith and Coaching

In conversations with Thom Sigel, I became aware of the FCA Coach's Huddle that he is a part of. Earlier, I did an interview with Thom where he discussed the group- how it worked, who was involved, and the impact the group had on him. 

The conversation with Thom got me thinking about how religion and faith can impact individual coaches. In this blog, I have had an opportunity to see how five coaches feel their faith has impacted their coaching. Their thoughtfulness and caring for their student-athletes is inspiring. 

Jason Marquis- Bureau Valley, Head Boys Basketball Coach. He has been coaching at BV for 16 years, and been their head coach for 12 years.

David Terronez- Bettendorf, Head Boys Cross Country and Track Coach. He has been in this position for the last 10 years. He also was Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Rock Island for 12 years, and has been involved coaching basketball during this time. 

Ryan Kelley- Geneseo, Junior High Boys Basketball Coach and HS Golf Coach. Ryan has coached for 30 years as a HS boys and girls basketball coach. 

Thom Sigel- Retired- Thom was Head Boys Basketball Coach at Rock Falls and Rock Island. (If he ever comes back, it would seem the only "Rock" left would be Rockridge.)

Andrew Hofer- He was formerly the Head Football Coach at Mercer County. Today he is director of Three Rivers FCA. 

Massey- How has your faith impacted you both personally and professionally? How do you hope that your faith has influenced your coaching?

Ryan Kelley- My faith personally has affected my entire family, the way we strive to live each day and the choices we make. We are intentional about prayer, devotionals, spending time in the Bible and helping others in the community. I have been involved with an FCA Coaches Study over 20 years. I am involved with a TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) faith retreat program in the Quad Cities. I have coached at FCA Camp the past 3 summers. Our family helped introduce Dance Marathon to Geneseo High School. Our community and students have raised over $80,000 in 3 years for the Iowa City Children’s Hospital. 

David Terronez- Faith - I have ups and downs like everyone else but I believe my Faith knowing that God has a plan for my life and it's for good - that doesn't mean the hard times are easier b/c I have to work at being positive, putting myself in situations where God can show me his plan. In athletics it has helped me to continue to coach b/c I know it's NOT about me - it's about the team and even the individuals on the team - help them to see God's plan in there life and it's not just HS athletics - they are just at the beginning ...

Andrew Hofer- My faith has been such an important part of my life. I have diligently tried to keep it at the forefront of everything that I do, both personally and professionally. Personally, my faith has impacted me tremendously. It's shaped how I interact with others, how I think, and how I try to carry myself on a daily basis. It's been the foundation of my marriage and now we're trying to help our 3 children in their faith so that they can have a Biblical foundation to build their lives upon. In life, there are so many challenges that arise at different points in life. Having a firm foundation in Christ, has allowed me to be able to lean into Him during times of trouble, struggles, and the many difficulties that life throws at us. My faith gives me hope, endurance, and an excitement to disciple those that I come into contact with. 

In the professional settings that I've been involved with, whether in a school setting, on the field/court, or now serving as a local missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, my faith has been highly impactful. How I treat others, how I interact with others, how I present myself, how I walk the walk is so important. In coaching, it's vital to be real with the stakeholders that we're working with (athletes, parents, fans, administrators, boosters, officials, other coaches). They can see a fake from a mile away. I've tried to live my faith in my coaching roles. To use coaching as a mission field where we can be influential athletically, in a leadership role, and most importantly, as a believer in Christ. It's not always perfect. In fact, it can get messy at times. I'm so thankful that I have a Savior that forgives us of our transgressions, and I try to be a light in a profession that can sometimes be full of mine fields. 

Jason Marquis- Hebrews 11:1—Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Practically, I believe that faith takes some of the 'sting' out of a 'bad day' here on earth. It provides a perspective that is different from my instinctual response; what I see as disappointment may be exactly what I need through God's perfect plan.

Within coaching, this means that 'losing' may provide as meaningful a life experience to our kids as 'winning'; an injury may be a blessing in disguise; pain and disappointment from our sport don't change God's goodness. Sports certainly prepare us to handle joy with grace and disappointment with hope.

Thom Sigel- Coaching can definitely have its difficulties amongst the many rewarding aspects.  I can admit that throughout my coaching career, I would often get wrapped up in the competition.  I realize competition is based on winning and losing, and I was driven to spend time and effort to give us the best chance to win.  However, I put added pressure and stress on myself to live up to expectations and did not handle losing well at all.  While I had these struggles, I believe it could have even worse without my faith and other Christians to lean on.  I was able to find some good Biblical based resources to read, and attending our weekly FCA Coaches Huddle helped keep me grounded.  It was still a struggle because it is in my nature, but my faith has helped me realize I don't have to have my identity based on the results of basketball games.

Massey- Is there a Bible verse or verses which you have leaned on as a coach?

Ryan Kelley- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  - Jeremiah 29:11

David Terronez- Bible verses I am working at - I like that running is used many times - Run to win the race but not the race you think but the one God has planned. The song I recite and it might be a verse - "I may not know what the day may bring but I know who brings the day" - I also like the verse - "know who is God and you are NOT"

Andrew Hofer- My favorite passage in the Bible is the entirety of Psalm 23. 

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

What really resonates from this passage is that we are the sheep. We are wandering through this life where we will walk through many challenges (the valley of the shadow of death). Even though it doesn't typically become that extreme in the coaching profession, we do go through many ups and downs. What I've found though is that the Lord is my shepherd. The game that I coach is not my guide. Wins and losses aren't my guide. The advice we receive from many isn't our guide. If we lean into the Lord, trust Him, and truly follow with all of our hearts, He will guide us. Good times, bad times, it doesn't matter. He will be the one that restores us. 

In coaching, we get so caught up in the day to day. A bad practice and we can't stop thinking about the next one. A bad game and many coaches become obsessive about the "fix" before the next game. Working hard and trying to get better is Biblical. But resonating with our sport or with the results of our sport is not. The only shepherd we truly have is Jesus Christ. 

Jason Marquis- Hebrews 11:6 is my favorite verse:

For you see, it is impossible to please God without faith, for anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Again - that reward usually is not a win over our rival; it's more likely to be a young man who becomes an outstanding husband, father, community member, and follower of Christ.
With that said, the verse I repeat most to my young men is 'iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another' or 'bad company corrupts good character'.

Thom Sigel- I believe two verses that have stuck with me the most are Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This first stuck with me when a member at our church in Rock Falls shared this verse with me as I was contemplating making the move to Rock Island. It has been a reminder that even if the plan I would set for myself doesn’t go as planned, I can have confidence that God has a plan for me that is far greater.

   The other verse is Phillipians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Honestly, early on I may have viewed this as motivational at what I could do in coaching, but over the years I came to realize it was much deeper than my shallow interpretation.  There are so many times in coaching, and in life that we find strength through Christ if we lean upon him.

Massey-I am a Christian in my faith, but too often I fail to be a Christian in my behavior. What are/were the situations in sports that have been challenges for you, and where you perhaps feel you came up short of what you want to be as a Christian?

Ryan Kelley- Early in my career, I know I was much more of a yeller from the bench. I also was way too hard on officials and did not give them their due respect. I tended to not offer enough GRACE to officials, my players or myself. I am not proud of how that looked or felt at the time. I do believe God humbles us continuously throughout our lives. I am humbled looking back at those times and know that I am a much better Christian example in competition now! I have a different calm with the entire environment. Athletics is now about working hard, learning, setting life priorities, offering grace and offering the encouragement to be a better player, a better coach and most importantly, a better overall person. 

David Terronez- In the past 4 years at Bettendorf we are on our third student that has passed away - so this will be our third sticker on our uniforms as we just had a senior and a classmate of the seniors pass away two weeks ago - I use this time to show them nothing is promised and to focus on getting to do this sport/activity - as opposed to have to ...

Andrew Hofer- As coaches, we all go through many different ups and downs. There are many things that can cause this rollercoaster in our coaching careers. The largest issue I've had is identifying with results. Win, and I couldn't wait to go out in town. To interact with the people who were in the stands on Friday was fun after the wins. We relished in it. It felt good. Winning should feel good. It's the product of a completed process that takes months to prepare for. It takes a serious amount of energy and hard work. Winning should not be my identity. When it all comes to be said and done, I don't want to be known as the coach who just "won" on the field. 

On the other hand, I have also identified as the coach who didn't win. Have a tough loss on a Friday, I wanted to be a recluse. I wanted to hole up and not come out in public during the week. Everyone is obviously staring at me when I'm out around town. It's a feeling that makes you feel puny but is probably a product of my own ego. Losing has, at times, made me take a bunker mentality where I don't want to come out until I can fix whatever plagued during the loss. 

The bottom line is that coaching is not just about the wins/losses on the field or court. It's certainly a part of it, but it's not the part we should identify with. We should identify with the fact that we are saved by grace and called to do His work through the powerful ministry of coaching. Do we want to have success? Most definitely. Almost every coach I've ever known is ultra-competitive. What really matters are the wins off the field. Winning hearts. Making a true difference in the lives of our players. As I look back, there are definitely times where winning on the field mattered more than in life. It's a shortfall of where the Lord had called me. I'm thankful that I have a Savior that helps me to recognize that fault, forgives me, and helps guide me to truly lean into Him. 

Jason Marquis- I have a terrible habit of saying 'Jesus Christ' when frustrated. I set out in 2023-2024 to eliminate that response when I was frustrated. In January, I slipped up at halftime of a game in frustration. Hours after the game, my assistant coach had the courage and confidence in our friendship to bring my shortcomings up to me. I had to come back the following day with my 7-year-old son (who was in the locker room at halftime) and my team and apologize for the poor example of letting my frustration take control of my words. As one of my players reminded me in that meeting, 'Thank goodness for God's grace.'

That failure is likely indicative of being quicker to anger and less grace-filled than what I would want any of my players to deem 'Christ-like behavior'.

Thom Sigel- I know we all fall short, and coaching definitely has its share of circumstances for us to slip.  The first that comes to mind is in dealing with officials in the heat of a game.  I think of the times where I have gone beyond just the competitive juices of competition and made it more personal.  Another area stemming from competition would be in dealing with players.  I feel like most of the time I tried to coach them as I would my own kids.  I felt I could coach them hard but treat them with respect.  I wonder about times I may have crossed that line, sometimes without even realizing it.

Massey- As coaches, we can have a powerful influence on young people. How do you or did you, walk the line in a public school of wanting to be an example of your faith to your athletes but not infringing on their freedom to believe what they want to believe?

Ryan Kelley- I have been in several different public schools and my faith in coaching/teaching has looked a little different at each stop. I have hosted an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) for our program at a couple schools, inviting players to join if desired. Some groups would be small, some would start small and grow through players' discipleship. At other schools, the community or school FCA would be extremely involved and present to our athletes and I was able to insert myself as a piece to that great environment. I have invited players to attend church with my family. I have offered prayer to players and their family in tough situations. I continue to reach out to players long after they have left the program to offer support, encouragement and prayer. 

I am not apologetic for being Christian and I try to be Christian in my actions, words, how I treat people and how I handle intense situations. A quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words”, speaks to what I try to do daily. 

David Terronez- My walk in public as I get older my circle is smaller and I want to continue to improve so I surround myself with like minded people and positive situations.

Andrew Hofer- This can be a pretty touchy subject depending on what school you're working at. I think, in general, the best thing we can do as believers is to be loving and try show the Christ-like qualities that Jesus exemplified in the Gospel. As coaches who are believers, we should stand out. We should be different. I'm not saying that we are a show, but people should, at the very least, be able to tell there's something different about a coach who is a believers versus someone who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

As coaches, we have still have the right to stand for our faith. We have the right to pray on our own. We can teach our athletes traits that are based on Biblical principles. But one of the biggest things we can do as a believing coach is to walk the walk. How do we talk to those around us? What are we doing at night and on the weekend when we're out in public or at home. What are we posting on our social media? Are we praying and staying in the word? Are we attending church services? There are plenty of things that we can do to practice what we preach. Coaches are powerful influencers on the lives to so many. We need to not only walk the walk, but to do the things that are necessary to keep a Gospel foundation in our own lives to help guard our own hearts from unrighteous paths. 

Jason Marquis- My school has been amazing in allowing me to be genuinely who I am with my team. John 13:35 - "By this, all people will know you are my disciples if you have a love for one another." Every school should want their coaches to 'love' their student-athletes well, put their needs ahead of our own, care about them, discipline them, and offer them perspective on how the lessons learned within a team and within a sport will prepare them for the challenges and joys that lie ahead in school, in parenting, in the workforce, and in marriages.  I believe our administration realizes that faith provides a strong base for being a 3-dimensional coach.

Thom Sigel- It can be a fine line in the public school setting with how much we can share our faith.  I believe trying to live a life that honors Christ through our coaching is something that players will likely notice.  I know the players would see the negatives as well, but I hope they were aware of my Christianity.  There would be times I would touch on it without imposing my views, so they would hear it as well.  As a young coach, I was aware about how prayer can make waves in the public school setting, so we would always have a moment of silence in the locker room before each game.  I am sure our players saw it as a short personal prayer time (whether they chose to use it individually or not), but I never heard a word from administration about it.

Massey- A popular thing in sports is to use just single words to be reminders of team culture. Examples for a basketball team might be “defense”, “pressure”, “team”, “composure”, “toughness.” My question for you- (Not using Jesus) Are there 2-3 words you would hope were at the center of your team’s culture which express both your faith and team’s culture?

Ryan Kelley- Integrity/The Right Way, Discipline/Commitment, Hope/Encouragement

David Terronez-  I use a word of the year 2024 - Trust. 2023 - Faith -2022 Hope and 2021 - Love just to name a few

Andrew Hofer- A word that would really define what I liked to see in our team's culture and would be at the center of my own personal faith culture is grit. Just like in sports, we face so many different challenges on a daily basis. It can be tough to handle what's going on in our lives, let alone the lives of many teenagers that we are leading. Grit is a pretty common word into today's culture. When I think of that word though, I think of the word overcomer. Jesus overcame sin and death to give us new life through Him. In coaching we have to overcome mental hurdles on the court/field, challenges our student-athletes are facing, varying skill levels, opponents, and thousands of other variables that may come up among our team. When coaching, you wanted your team to have grit. To be able to overcome adversity. To move onto the next play because the last one was over. To have a short memory. To learn from our mistakes. To work relentlessly towards the goal. 

Through Christ, we have been given the opportunity to choose Him. He has overcome our own sin so that we may live. What a special gift that is. I'm so thankful for a Saviour that is merciful, powerful, and mighty. A Saviour that made me, a lowly sinner, whole again! 

Jason Marquis- Sacrifice - We can acknowledge the ULTIMATE sacrifice while also appreciating that our team requires the sacrifice of each member's personal goals to yield to the aspirations of our team. Sacrifice is necessary for any relationship or team to be healthy.

Commitment - Basketball is a long sport, and there will be days when waking up for practice or 'walking the extra mile' isn't fun. Every meaningful relationship, from employer/employee to husband/wife to father/son, has elements that aren't fun and require one's commitment to prevail over one's feelings in a given moment. While we may feel like disowning a commitment at 6am on a Saturday morning after a tough loss, our commitment prompts us to wake up and be in the gym to improve. At the end of the year, our experience as part of a basketball team means more because of the shared commitment to each other.

Effort - Nothing in life worth having is easy.

Thom Sigel- Faith, Family, School, Basketball

Sacrifice and Selfless

An earlier blog about the FCA Coaches Huddle 

FCA Coaches Huddle