COACHES SPOTLIGHT: DOUG LASSITER

Doug Lassiter is the head football coach for students in grades seven and eight. He believes football is an excellent platform for learning to put your faith in God, building deep relationships, and developing a strong work ethic. He takes pride in his role to help players develop a love for the game so that they are willing to put in the hard work required to be apart of the WC varsity football program.

How did you get into coaching?
“My high school baseball and football coaches were my biggest inspiration for coaching as a ministry. Although they were public school teachers, they shared their faith in the moments that God created for them. I ended up having strong relationships with both of them. They believed in me, and I trusted that they cared about me, so I allowed them to push me to do better. My baseball coach was also my math teacher, and the last advice he gave me was, “Put Christ first, and you will never be sorry.” These words have stuck with me and have impacted my decisions for the last 36 years. Interestingly enough, both coaches went on to become pastors.”

What is the most rewarding thing for you about coaching?
“There are many rewarding aspects of coaching, but the most rewarding is seeing a player smile after a good play, overcome a challenge, encourage their teammate, or when one of our quieter players “breaks us out” at the end of practice with enthusiasm. I love watching them hang out together and get excited as a team. I enjoy watching them stick around after practice to throw the football around.”

How do you incorporate faith into your coaching?
“We look for opportunities to point out God’s truth in everything we do. We will do it in groups or as a team, but I think the most impactful time is when the Holy Spirit prompts one of us, in the moment, to share God’s truth with a player. Okay, that’s probably my most rewarding thing about coaching.”