Head Wrestling Coach

U.S. National Coach, 5x U.S. World Team Coach, 7x U.S. National Freestyle Team Champions, Pan-Am Championships Coach.

I had given God my life, but not my coaching. It was something I held dear to me and I wouldn't let it go - it was all mine. I was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and even did a missions trip to Central America with Athletes In Action, I attended church and read the Bible, yet I never surrendered completely to God.

I had great success in coaching. I set personal goals and pursued them vigorously. I achieved what I set out to do; whether it was to develop All-Americans, US National Team members, World Team members, or to coach national or world teams for the United States. I accomplished my goals. But nothing I achieved brought any satisfaction. The high moment I was searching for never arrived, instead it was filled with disappointment and emptiness.

I thought, "If I can only do this, or coach this team, or coach in this world championship, then I be satisfied," but it never happened. It seemed to be a never ending cycle. Coaching became more difficult because I felt that the next rainbow I would be chasing would not have a pot of gold at the end of it - it would be empty like all the rest. "Why seek, if you can never find," was how I was how I felt. I hit the wall and wanted out of the profession I loved for 20 years. I just couldn't handle it any longer, coaching became a chore not a labor of love as it once was.

I was fighting through these thoughts and feelings one morning as I exercised on a bike in the wrestling room reading my Bible, when a song came on the radio entitled "I Surrender All," by Clay Cross. My heart broke and I began to cry as tears ran down my face. I could no longer peddle as I slumped across the handle bars and sobbed. The words of the song slashed deeply into my heart:

So I lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown, should you choose some how to use this life I willingly lay down.

I surrender all the triumphs, for it is only by your grace. I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise.

I surrender all, my silent hopes and dreams, though the price to follow costs me everything. I surrender all."

Slowly, but surely God began to change the way I coach, teach, recruit, and run a collegiate program. My goal was always to win; to develop All-Americans on and off the mat, now I have one primary goal: to glorify God. I now pursue that goal with all my heart, might and strength every day. And I enjoy doing it. The thrill...the high I was seeking, well, I found it in serving God - and doing His will.

I had one last goal I wanted to pursue in my coaching career - that was to be Olympic Coach one day. But I left that goal on the foot of the cross. I surrendered all. My final goal is simply for Jesus to call me one day to His throne and say, "Well done good and faithful servant." That is the goal I am now pursuing.