Athletics: Impactful coaching
Athletics cohort schedule for Best Practices for the Christian School ™
elevate your athletics
This cohort empowers coaches to use sports as a platform for life-changing mentorship and discipleship. Sessions will cover techniques to foster positive team culture, develop leadership in student-athletes, and uphold values that reflect Christ’s character in competition. You’ll leave equipped to mentor athletes with excellence and purpose. Sign up today to make a lasting impact on and off the field!
Please Note: Sessions for BPI 2025 are still being finalized. The sessions listed below are examples and may be subject to change, but they provide a preview of the types of learning experiences you can expect.
2025 sessions
Session #1:
Aligning to Mission & the Cultural Impact of Athletics on the School
This opening session will discuss the correlation between the school’s mission, vision, and values and the alignment of your athletic program’s culture. We will also discuss hiring, branding, and a common language that coaches, athletes, and families share.
Presenter
Tony Woodall
Session #2 :
Coaches as disciples: The Living Curriculum Coach
Do you ask your coaches to disciple your athletes? This session will explore the tools and methods coaches can use to do so. We will also outline the importance of hiring and the meaning of a Living Curriculum coach and its importance in your program.
Presenter
Tony Woodall
Session #3:
Hiring and Evaluating Cultural Coaches: Tools & Culture
Coaches matter. Recruiting, Hiring, Training, and evaluating your coaches will determine the success of your athletic department. You can have the best facilities, best policies, and best admin team and still not be successful if your coaches on the front lines aren’t living out the mission of the school. In this session, we will explore hiring practices, professional development for coaches, the coach evaluation process, criteria, and tools.
Presenter
Tony Woodall & Dr. Gene Frost
Session #4:
Hot Topics & Q&A
We will use this session to open the discussion to hot topics and questions and answers among the cohort. Bring your issues and be ready to workshop solutions.
Topics may include:
- Parent Programming
- College Recruiting / NIL / NLI
- New Trends in Technology
- Booster Club Structure
- Death of the Multi-Sport Athlete
- Leadership Development / Captain Classes
Presenter
Tony Woodall & Dr. Gene Frost
Session #5:
The Job of an Athletic Director
There are many aspects to the job of an Athletic Director from hiring and developing coaches, to development and maintaining the facilities. During this session, we will discuss these different aspects and explore how athletic programs can be best organized and managed.
Presenter
Dr. Phil Strzalka
Session #6:
Wheaton College & Wheaton Academy
We will use this session to open the discussion to hot topics and questions and answers among the cohort. Bring your issues and be ready to workshop solutions.
Presenter
Tony Woodall & Steve Bult
Faculty
mike walker
Director of Athletics | second Baptist Christian school, Houston, tx
🎓 Educational Background
Clarks Summit University — B.A. in Physical Education, Health, and Bible
Eastern University — M.A. in Organizational Leadership
💼 Professional Experience
Mike Walker has led athletic departments at three different schools since 2003, serving in both Pennsylvania and Texas. Before joining Second Baptist School as Director of Athletics, he played a key role in shaping athletic programs through leadership positions, including serving on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association Executive Council, as a league Vice President, and as a District Committee Member. His contributions to athletics have been widely recognized, earning him two Athletic Director of the Year awards in Pennsylvania. Additionally, he has been published in Coach & A.D. Magazine, writing about the powerful influence coaches have in students’ lives.
Leading a team of nearly 70 coaches, Mike is passionate about equipping student-athletes with the skills to achieve victory on the field by first mastering the small, everyday challenges in life.
💬 Personal Message
“I am extremely excited to be part of the Best Practices for Christian School Conference. God used athletics to impact my walk with Christ, and I am passionate about connecting with other industry professionals who are committed to impacting young people for Christ.”
Follow Mike Walker on X at @mawalker_SBAD or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Dr. Jon Young
athletic director | Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Stow, OH
🎓 Educational Background
B.S. Education – Clarks Summit University (PA)
M.A. Educational Administration – Emporia State University (KS)
PhD Organizational Leadership – Columbia International University
💼 Professional Experience
Jon Young has served as Athletic Director at two different schools for a total of 18 years. In his current role at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, he is charged with “Coaching the coaches” while they work to implement spiritual development in student-athletes. Jon oversees an athletic department with 26 varsity programs and 130 coaches. He also helps provide leadership to the CASE organization which serves Christian school Athletic Director’s across the country.