A Real Champion

In my 27 years of coaching basketball, one of my all-time favorite coaches to compete against and fellowship with was Keith Champion. Champion, what a great name for a coach! Keith is certainly a champion in more ways than one. He has led many of his teams to conference, state and regional championships, but has developed young men to be champions off the court as much as on the court.

Coach Champion has coached in Christian schools and colleges for over 30 years. Most recently, Keith has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN. You may have been aware that the board of directors at Pillsbury voted to close the school this past December. Tough economic times and declining enrollment forced the board to make a very difficult decision and it abruptly left Coach Champion without a place to coach half way through the season. After 30 years in coaching, finding another place to coach posed a serious challenge. Keith’s resume is outstanding, but starting over again is never very easy. Most coaching vacancies would probably be filled with coaches half his age.

Through this transition, Coach Champion and his wife Judy have consistently trusted the Lord to lead and open doors. I remember having a conversation with Keith shortly after Pillsbury announced they were closing. I asked him what possibilities the future held. He mentioned the possibilities of teaching or administrating at some Christian schools, but then shared with me a question that he had asked his wife, “Judy, I’m a coach, aren’t I?” I’m sure that Judy’s reply was much the same as mine would have been, “Yes, Keith, you’re a coach”. The longer I thought about Keith’s question, the more I realized that he is more than just a coach. He is a coach’s coach. He is a godly leader and well-respected humble servant. Anyone who has ever played for him or coached against him has certainly realized this. Keith understands the real purpose of coaching. He knows that it’s not about building a resume, a program or a reputation. With Keith, coaching is about building young lives. Thankfully, Keith will continue to do this now at Clearwater Christian College. About a week ago, Clearwater announced that Coach Champion has agreed to coach their men’s basketball team and serve as assistant athletic director.

At CSPN we are thrilled that Coach Champion will continue to coach and impact young lives. We are also are grateful that he has agreed to serve on the CSPN Advisory Board. He has already contributed some articles to the Coach’s Corner. These articles are reprints from a weekly article called “From the Sidelines” that he used to write for the Owatonna People Press. Coach Champion always communicates a Biblical philosophy and ministry focus through his coaching and writing. We look forward to his valuable input in an advisory role for us at CSPN. We also look forward to seeing how God is going to continue using Coach Champion at Clearwater Christian College.