If I were to ask sports fans what do Gary Waters, Turner Gill, Dino Babers, and Paul Haynes all have in common, I'm sure the response would be they are all African-American college coaches and that would be correct, except Waters is now retired from coaching. But how many people know they are all affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes? Certainly, Sean Lewis knows Babers is affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes because he was with Babers ever since he was the head coach at Bowling Green. Some Kent State fans may know Waters' affiliation with FCA since he coached the Flashes in basketball from 1996-2000 before he went to Rutgers. And of course some MAC fans may remember Gill giving thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ after winning the MAC Championship when he was at Buffalo in 2008 (see video below).
Along with Gill, Waters and Babers have also won a conference championship, but that is not what distinguishes them from other coaches. What distinguishes them from other coaches is their focus on building young men. In the article, "Turner Gill's focus on building people," Gill states, "I don't want to be truly defined by wins and losses." He explains, "I understand that I'm hired and fired by wins and losses, but I do know that I'm on this earth to help young men, and that's what gratifies me every day. That's why I can go home every day with a smile on my face, because I help at least one person feel better about himself."
The article tells of a time when Gill was recruiting a player from a broken home, and he could sense tension between the boy's mother and his father and stepmother.
"Long story short," Gill says, "we all prayed together. In less than 48 hours, they were talking with each other. They felt good about each other. They thanked me, thanked us, for helping them mend that together. That to me, that's what college football is all about."
Long story short, Gill signed that young man to play at Buffalo.
"We want to win championships," Gill says, "but that helped that young man. That's everlasting."
Similar stories can be said about Waters, Babers, and Haynes. They are all in the business of building young men into leaders and are outspoken about their faith and beliefs away from football.
Waters, who was passionate not only about winning games but also about teaching his athletes lessons with biblical principles, was presented with the 2010 John Lotz "Barnabas" Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
"This award represents to me all of the things that should be good about the game of basketball and how you should carry yourself as a Man of God," Waters said. "One of the facets of coaching that I truly enjoy has nothing to do with winning games, but it allows me to help shape the lives in a good way of the many young men who have played for me over the years."
"I have always been a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes because I believe in its mission and I appreciate being selected to receive this award. John Lotz represents to me all that is good about basketball. He coached with the character and integrity that each and very coach should live by," Waters added.
The same can be said about Babers. Back in 2014 at a unity breakfast presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he once told a story of a young man’s spiritual change, spurred by near collisions after a tire blow-out when driving at high speed.
In the article, "BGSU, UT players go to breakfast," the author writes, “The only words the young man got throughout the entire ordeal were don’t settle.’”
“He stopped settling in his marriage, he stopped settling in the relationship with his daughters, he stopped settling at work, he stopped settling in the way he dealt with his football players, and he has rededicated his entire life to never being average in anything he does. He’s not moved by money. He’s not moved by fame. He’s moved by the man upstairs when he gives the word to move.”
Interestingly, the author states, "The 'football players' reference revealed that the coach was telling his own story."
Click the link below to hear Babers tell his "Do Not Settle" story to Danny Yamashiro during a radio broadcast. His story begins at the 13:39 mark.
https://thegoodlifehawaii.com/not-settle-coach-dino-babers/
Haynes may not have had the success of Waters, Gill, or Babers in terms of wins and losses but he was just as committed to building moral character of his players when he coached at Kent State.
In the article, "Kent State football continues team prayer," the author writes, "Head coach Paul Haynes encourages the players to have a spiritual part of their lives, regardless of denomination."
He explains, "Before every game and after every practice, (Will) Matthews leads the whole team in a group prayer. Coach Haynes asked Matthews to lead prayers at the beginning of this season. Regardless of religious beliefs and backgrounds, the team unites for this moment."
“It brings people together,” said senior kicker, Shane Hynes. “I don’t know everybody’s beliefs, but I know it creates a bond.”
The author writes, "This bond is something that Frank Kurtz, a Kent State Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s staff member, said more teams should strive for."
“In this day and age, it is very hard for young people to stand up and say I believe in something,” Kurtz said. “For these young men to say 'Hey, I’m not afraid to do this,' that’s a great example for others to follow.”
He states, "Each prayer is different. Some include prayers for specific team members, prayers for victims of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, and prayers for the coaching staff. He explained that the prayer is bigger than the game."
It is my hope that Coach Lewis will not only emulate Babers' hurry-up offense but also his spiritual approach to coaching. Because the former without the latter is settling and Kent State University should never settle when it comes to its student-athletes.
Along with Gill, Waters and Babers have also won a conference championship, but that is not what distinguishes them from other coaches. What distinguishes them from other coaches is their focus on building young men. In the article, "Turner Gill's focus on building people," Gill states, "I don't want to be truly defined by wins and losses." He explains, "I understand that I'm hired and fired by wins and losses, but I do know that I'm on this earth to help young men, and that's what gratifies me every day. That's why I can go home every day with a smile on my face, because I help at least one person feel better about himself."
The article tells of a time when Gill was recruiting a player from a broken home, and he could sense tension between the boy's mother and his father and stepmother.
"Long story short," Gill says, "we all prayed together. In less than 48 hours, they were talking with each other. They felt good about each other. They thanked me, thanked us, for helping them mend that together. That to me, that's what college football is all about."
Long story short, Gill signed that young man to play at Buffalo.
"We want to win championships," Gill says, "but that helped that young man. That's everlasting."
Similar stories can be said about Waters, Babers, and Haynes. They are all in the business of building young men into leaders and are outspoken about their faith and beliefs away from football.
Waters, who was passionate not only about winning games but also about teaching his athletes lessons with biblical principles, was presented with the 2010 John Lotz "Barnabas" Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
"This award represents to me all of the things that should be good about the game of basketball and how you should carry yourself as a Man of God," Waters said. "One of the facets of coaching that I truly enjoy has nothing to do with winning games, but it allows me to help shape the lives in a good way of the many young men who have played for me over the years."
"I have always been a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes because I believe in its mission and I appreciate being selected to receive this award. John Lotz represents to me all that is good about basketball. He coached with the character and integrity that each and very coach should live by," Waters added.
The same can be said about Babers. Back in 2014 at a unity breakfast presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he once told a story of a young man’s spiritual change, spurred by near collisions after a tire blow-out when driving at high speed.
In the article, "BGSU, UT players go to breakfast," the author writes, “The only words the young man got throughout the entire ordeal were don’t settle.’”
“He stopped settling in his marriage, he stopped settling in the relationship with his daughters, he stopped settling at work, he stopped settling in the way he dealt with his football players, and he has rededicated his entire life to never being average in anything he does. He’s not moved by money. He’s not moved by fame. He’s moved by the man upstairs when he gives the word to move.”
Interestingly, the author states, "The 'football players' reference revealed that the coach was telling his own story."
Click the link below to hear Babers tell his "Do Not Settle" story to Danny Yamashiro during a radio broadcast. His story begins at the 13:39 mark.
https://thegoodlifehawaii.com/not-settle-coach-dino-babers/
Haynes may not have had the success of Waters, Gill, or Babers in terms of wins and losses but he was just as committed to building moral character of his players when he coached at Kent State.
In the article, "Kent State football continues team prayer," the author writes, "Head coach Paul Haynes encourages the players to have a spiritual part of their lives, regardless of denomination."
He explains, "Before every game and after every practice, (Will) Matthews leads the whole team in a group prayer. Coach Haynes asked Matthews to lead prayers at the beginning of this season. Regardless of religious beliefs and backgrounds, the team unites for this moment."
“It brings people together,” said senior kicker, Shane Hynes. “I don’t know everybody’s beliefs, but I know it creates a bond.”
The author writes, "This bond is something that Frank Kurtz, a Kent State Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s staff member, said more teams should strive for."
“In this day and age, it is very hard for young people to stand up and say I believe in something,” Kurtz said. “For these young men to say 'Hey, I’m not afraid to do this,' that’s a great example for others to follow.”
He states, "Each prayer is different. Some include prayers for specific team members, prayers for victims of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, and prayers for the coaching staff. He explained that the prayer is bigger than the game."
It is my hope that Coach Lewis will not only emulate Babers' hurry-up offense but also his spiritual approach to coaching. Because the former without the latter is settling and Kent State University should never settle when it comes to its student-athletes.
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