#KingChasing Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brandon Gilmore
Host Richard Martin has conversations with leaders in sport about keeping Christ at the center of athletics. (Previous Host: Brandon Gilmore, SE1 EP1 – SE3 EP5)
Abby Schultz is a graduate of Grace Christian University, where she played basketball and volleyball for the Tigers. In her senior season, Schultz helped lead the Tigers to their first regional championship in school history, culminating in a fourth-place finish at the 2016 NCCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. Schultz was an NCCAA First Team All-American selection in 2016 and was the winner of the prestigious Game Plan 4 LIFE Award. Following her playing career, Schultz coached women’s basketball at Hannibal-LaGrange University, Dordt University, and Indiana Wesleyan University before earning her current role as Championship Sports Manager for the NAIA. In 2022, Schultz earned the honor of being inducted into the Grace Christian University Athletic Hall of Fame.
In this episode, Schultz reflects on her playing career at Grace Christian University, the challenges and responsibility of being a Christian coach, and how humbling it was to be inducted into the Grace Christian University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Collin Cone is the head men’s soccer coach at Lubbock Christian University. Cone is entering his third season as head coach of the Chaparrals, guiding LCU to a pair of wins over nationally ranked opponents in his first year and has had seven players named to the Lone Star All-Conference Team, along with one Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year Award winner.
Cone is a graduate of Grace College, where he registered a 23-16-7 mark in goal for the Lancers, making 203 saves and posting 15 shutouts, guiding Grace to back-to-back NCCAA Division I Men’s Soccer National Championship appearances. In his time as an assistant coach at Grace College, the Lancers won the Crossroads League Championship for the first time in 25 years and made it to the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the first time in 35 years.
In this episode, Cone shares his experience growing up as the son of two missionaries in Cameroon, how he came to play and coach soccer at Grace College, and his experience now as a head soccer coach and as a new father to twins.
Cat Collins has been the head coach of the Eagles beach volleyball program for four seasons and was the interim indoor volleyball head coach this year. In 2021, Cat was named to the AVCA 30 Under 30 Beach Volleyball Coaches Award List and set a school record for most wins in a season in Carson-Newman Beach Volleyball history in 2023, as the Eagles finished the year with a 25-8 record. Collins is a graduate of Warner University, where she played volleyball for the Royals from 2015-2017, and was a member of the 2016 NCCAA South Regional Championship volleyball team at Warner. Collins was also an intern coordinator for B.A.L.L. Sports Ministry and was the FCA Organizational Ministry Leader at Warner from 2015-18.
In this episode, Collins shares about how she found her way to Warner, starting the B.A.L.L. sports ministry after going on a mission trip, and cultivating relationships with her student-athletes through Christ.
Hailey Cavanagh is the head softball coach of Concordia University Ann Arbor. Hailey is in her seventh year with the Cardinals and during her time has had three NCCAA World Series’ appearances, one National Championship title, and has been named NCCAA Coach of the Year. She has also twice been named the conference Champion of Character Coach. Hailey received her bachelor’s degree from William Penn University in 2010 and her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Dubuque in 2012.
In this episode, Hailey shares about the on-field success of her softball team, how she integrates faith within the team, and balancing the mindset of winning while staying focused on Christ.
Mark Womack is the Sports Information Director for Cedarville University. Mark has been the SID for the Yellow Jackets since 1983, currently serving in his 41st year. Also a Cedarville graduate, he was a four-year member of the men’s basketball and golf teams, and was inducted into the Cedarville University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Mark was also the 2000 recipient of the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in the sports information field.
In this episode, Mark shares about his time at Cedarville as a student-athlete and SID, how his job has changed over the past 40 years, and how he incorporates faith into his role.
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.
Judy Fox is the founder and president of Ignite International. Judy has been inducted into four halls of fame, including Houghton University’s Hall of Honor and the NCCAA’s Hall of Fame. Her global impact is notable in the USA, Nicaragua, Cuba, Liberia, the Holy Land, Jamaica, and Russia, to name a few. Judy has trained leaders of national teams, international sports federations, Olympic committees, and youth development and community influencers in more than a dozen nations to utilize the universal language of sport to empower tomorrow’s leaders.
In this episode, Judy shares how she began a lifetime of sports ministry, how she tried to make an impact for Christ as a coach, and the global impact of Ignite International and Ignite U1.
Kenny McBride is the Team Leader of Summer Staff Recruiting for WinShape Camps. In this role, Kenny and his staff foster hundreds of college and campus ministry partners as they recruit, interview, and hire over 800 summer staffers. Kenny was a four-year student-athlete on the men’s soccer team at Moody Bible Institute. While there, Moody Bible won three Regional Championships and one NCCAA National Championship. Kenny graduated in 2017 from Moody Bible with a bachelor’s degree in evangelism in discipleship, and earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Theological Studies in 2019, also from Moody Bible.
In this episode, Kenny shares about his time as a student-athlete at Moody Bible Institute, how WinShape Camps makes an impact, and why college students should work at WinShape.
Camilo Rodriguez is the goalkeeping and assistant coach for Clemson University’s men’s soccer team. He's in his seventh season with the Tigers, who won the 2021 NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship. The 2021 Tigers’ goalkeeper group combined for 10 shutouts and the 15th best goals against average in the country. Prior to Clemson, Camilo spent eight seasons as head coach of Southern Wesleyan University, leading the Warriors to two NCCAA Division I Men’s Soccer National Championships and earning NCCAA Coach of the Year honors in 2013.
In this episode, Camilo shares about his experience in Clemson’s 2021 National Championship run, his success at Southern Wesleyan University, and his advice on balancing work, family, and faith.
Sarah Young is the Director of College Women’s Ministry at Global Golf. Sarah, a native of New Zealand, represented her country for several years as a golfer in high school and went on to play college golf at Oklahoma State University and Kent State University. In college, she earned All-Big 12 honors, All-Mid-American Conference honors, and was named the prestigious 2010 Kim Moore Spirit Award Winner by the National Golf Coaches Association. Sarah also had coaching stints at Colorado State University and University of Tulsa.
In this episode, Sarah shares her journey on overcoming a severe car accident to return to the golf course, how she came to know Christ, and what she’s doing now with Global Golf.
Chad Briscoe is the Director of Athletics at Grace College. Chad’s energetic vision has guided Grace Athletics to unparalleled success across the school’s varsity programs. Since his arrival, Grace has added nine national championships in seven different sports. Chad’s desire to pursue Christ-like excellence has also led to Grace being named a Five-Star Champions of Character Institution with the NAIA multiple times and an NCCAA #KingChasing Institution. In 2022, he was named the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year, while Grace’s conference, the Crossroads League, named him the conference Athletic Director of the Year for the fourth time.
In this episode, Chad shares some insights into Grace’s athletic success while keeping a foundation centered on Christ.
Jason Romano is the Director of Media at Sports Spectrum and host of the popular Sports Spectrum Podcast. For 17 years, Jason was an Emmy-Award winning producer and senior manager at ESPN. He has created and produced content for shows such as SportsCenter, Monday Night Football, Mike and Mike in the Morning, Sunday NFL Countdown, College Gameday, NFL Live, MLB’s All Star Game, and more. He has also written two books titled Live to Forgive and his most recent titled The Uniform of Leadership.
In this episode, Jason shares about his time at ESPN, how Coach Dungy helped change his life, and what he’s now doing at Sports Spectrum.
FahKara Hawkins is the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Oakland City University. Before starting her coaching career, Hawkins starred at Purdue University, tallying 1,057 points, 513 assists, and 351 steals. The three-year captain was named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team, was a three-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection, and was chosen as a recipient of the Big Ten’s Medal of Honor. She’s had coaching stints at University of Evansville, Butler University, and University of Indianapolis.
In this episode FahKara, shares some of her experiences as a student-athlete at Purdue University, her desire to impact the young women she coaches, and what Title IX has meant to her.
John Zeller is the Executive Director of SCORE International. John has previously served as the Head Baseball Coach at Tennessee Temple University and The Master’s University, and is currently the chaplain for the New York Yankees Single-A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. A member on the Board of Directors of SCORE for over 35 years, John travels all over the U.S. speaking at churches, sporting events, camps, and conferences, while also traveling overseas on short-term mission trips throughout the year.
In this episode, John shares some memories of his time as a player and coach at former NCCAA member institutions, the various ministries of SCORE International, and how you can get involved with SCORE.
Tom Roy is the former president and founder of Unlimited Potential and author of Shepherd Coach. Tom has been involved with the game of baseball for over 50 years. He played briefly in the San Francisco Giants organization. He’s coached at the high school and college level, including at NCCAA members Grace College and Huntington College, now University. He spent close to 15 years as a scout in Major League Baseball for the Phillies, Braves, and Padres, and was a team chaplain for the White Sox. Tom also served as the chaplain at the NCCAA Baseball World Series for 28 years.
In this episode, Tom shares some insight into the most influential coach in his life, changes he experienced from the 1970’s to now, and what it means to be a Shepherd Coach.
Paul Putz is the Assistant Director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. Paul holds a Ph.D. in history from Baylor, and he researches and writes about the connections between sports and Christianity in American culture. Along with his academic publications, his writing has appeared at Christianity Today, Religion & Politics, Slate, Religion News Service, and more. His research has also been featured in stories at The Atlantic, Sports Illustrated, and The Ringer, and also in two episodes of NPR’s “Only A Game” radio program.
In this episode, Paul discusses ways for coaches to integrate faith within their teams, how student-athletes can follow Bill Glass’s example and share Christ with their teammates, and more.
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.