NCAA Coaches Getting Guidance from 'The Purpose-Driven Life'
College basketball players turn to their coaches when they are in need of guidance but where can the coaches turn to? One coach has made the turn to Rick Warren's book The Purpose-Driven Life and even brought 300 copies along to a meeting the NCAA's Division I coaches held in the fall.
"The nature of college basketball hasn't been so positive in its reputation because of some of the events that have taken place over the past year," McKay said with reference to the events involving Dave Bliss at Baylor, Larry Eustachy at Iowa State and Jim Harrick at Georgia.
The meeting was called so the coaches could talk about how to regain the reputation they once had.
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According the New Mexico's Ritchi McKay, the moral crisis in college basketball can be solved when people can realize God's purpose for them.
"We usually try to replace a feeling we don't want to feel, and we often replace it with sin. To avoid replacing it with the wrong thing, we have to have a reason not to, a purpose for why we shouldn't replace it with sin. Purpose-Driven Life gives you that purpose. It talks about your relationship with Christ and how He created you for His purpose."
McKay hopes that many coaches will remember rediscover the purpose through the book.
"I think what drew many of us into coaching was a sense of purpose, a commitment to student athletes. Most of us want to be role models, to show young men what it means to be a good husband, a good friend. I think there is an innate desire in most coaches to benefit the ones we coach. The motives of some coaches will be wrong, but I think the motives of most coaches are right," said McKay.
MyKay's recommendation of The Purpose-Driven Life has struck a chord with many. He has received letters from Steve Alford at Iowa, Dan Monson at Minnesota, and Dale Layre at Colorado State.
"I've talked to a few coaches who said they really liked it and were strongly impacted by it," NABC Executive Director Jim Haney said.
There is one thing basketball coaches or anyone should not forget in their lifetime, according to McKay.
"The only thing that lasts for eternity is relationships, not wins and losses and trophies. If we're obedient to God and put people first, it will bring about a blessing in that person's life, whether it's immediate, in six months or in 16 years. If you teach them right, they'll be blessed by it."
