A Coach's Leadership Tree - The True Measure of Greatness

I recently read that Tony Dungy (Coach) and Derrick Brooks (Player) were named as finalists to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tony Dungy is a brother in the Lord and was an outstanding coach. He was soft-spoken yet determined, a true player's coach, and a Super Bowl winning coach. (He should have won an additional Super Bowl championship with the team that he had built earlier in his career, the Tampa Bay Bucaneers too, just saying). Derrick Brooks, was one of the best linebackers at his position for a decade who had no weaknesses and was a team captain on that Tampa Bay Super Bowl winning defense.

Tony Dungy had a special relationship with Derrick Brooks and the other defensive team captain Warren Sapp. He would personally write a letter to both before the season explaining his admiration for them as players, but also his expectations of what their leadership would look like during the course of the season. Tony's leadership was infused into his players. Not only was his leadership infused into his players, but there are a number of coaches that coached under Tony that went on to be head coaches in the NFL. One of those coaches is the current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Good leaders develop a tree of talent. From the base of their leadership their influence branches out. Good leaders reproduce themselves. They are not afraid to lose leaders that they have developed, instead they are secure knowing that while some under them will transition that other young leaders will want to be a part of their team. Good leaders understand that while those under them may eventually leave for a 'promotion' that it's simply an added extension of the leader's ministry. It's not subtraction of developed staff, it's multiplication!

It's fun to look back on some of the past students/relationships of individuals who are now in or are pursuing full-time ministry that I had the privilege of developing/pushing.

Here is a short list of people, (my coaching tree) who are pursuing full-time ministry, that I've had the privilege of coaching:
1. Andrew Tilley (High-School) - Degree in Youth Ministry serving in his local church
2. Zach McCue - Working on his Master's and a Senior Pastor of a church in Columbia City
3. Logan Conley - A Youth Director and leader at Urban Hope Ministries in Philadelphia, PA
4. Shawn Mason - Interim Pastor at First Christian Church
5. Josh Leonhardt - Future OB leader and Youth Ministry Major
6. Andrea Farren - Attends Grace College and is focusing on Youth Ministry/Youth Counseling
7. Quinton Howell - Attends Grace College and is Majoring in Biblical Studies
8. Tristan Spuller - High-School student soon to be Youth Ministry Major
9. Charlie Hirschy - Part-time Youth Director and student at the church where I interned during college
10. Cassie Gram - Will be attending Grace College to focus on Youth Ministry

Let it be known that there are a plethora of other students who are not pursuing full-time ministry that I have had the privilege of mentoring and who are doing significant and powerful kingdom advancement work! You don't have to be in full-time ministry to have a large kingdom impact!

Let it ALSO be known that I can't wait to develop and push the teenagers at my current church to live to their redemptive potential! The process of multiplication never stops!

2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

One of the biggest compliments a person can pay you is that they would LOVE to work UNDER YOU!

Ever person should be discipling and mentoring someone else. Are you? Do you have a coaching tree?

Start with one person and meet regularly...it's that simple.

Logan and Andrea presenting me with an 'Equipping' Award. Honestly, the plaque means little compared with the two changed persons next to me.

 

I grew up in a small youth ministry in South Central Pa. That youth ministry has produced two youth pastors, a youth pastor's wife, and a worship pastor! Effective fruit.

 

A picture of lifetime friend Jared and his wife. Great to see that Jared is working under my father and is part of his "coaching tree".