The Coach for Christ
Kaley Israels
March 18, 2010
Filed under Sports Feature
The baseball team huddled together with their coach. Looking down and raising his voice up to heaven, he started the game off with a word of prayer, encouraging his team to give God the glory no matter what the results would bring. With a nod of their heads, each player proceeded to run to their positions on the field, ready for whatever the opposing team would throw at them.
In addition to being the sophomore Bible teacher at CCA, Coach Bill Schott also coaches baseball at Douglas High School. He started playing at age five, and after coaching for a total of 16 years—Fort Lauderdale High, Coral Springs Christian, Coconut Creek High, Calvary, and Douglas—he still enjoys the game today.
Through coaching, he has been able to share the truth of the gospel by simply being a light on the field. Being a Christian is part of who he is, and his players know and appreciate that, especially in times of trouble. They know that their coach is also a mentor, a man whom they can trust and go to for advice about things about on and off the field.
Not too long ago, Coach Schott led the captain of the team, Steve De Matties, to the Lord. Another student on the team has been cleaning up his act and is well on his way to knowing Christ as well.
When the boys on the team wanted a “unity day,” so Coach Schott took them to see, “To Save a Life.” He was a little anxious at how they would react, but they thanked him with much enthusiasm to his surprise. “That movie opened a door to help me speak to them about God,” explained Coach Schott, who considers himself blessed to be able to work with these boys. When asked where he sees himself in the next five years, he replied, “I still see myself in the exact same place I am now.”