Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Faith in the Zone on Fox Sports ninet
twenty in your iHeartRadio app. I'm Mike McGivern and I
am really close sitting right next to head pastor at
Brookside Baptist Church, Pastor Ken Kellner. We're kind of coming
from the Donavan and Jorganson Heating and Cooling studios. Man,
this is kind of our guest is kind of a
(00:21):
guinea pig on this show.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, yeah, I think Rob will be okay with it.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I think right well, I gotta think Josh, and think James,
James over At at Brookside, who makes us sound really good,
David over At iHeart normally doing this, but he's not
available today and we're going to try it at Brookside
Baptist Church. This could be our new studio home. I
know James wants to hear that. He's so excited about it.
(00:46):
So excited about it, Pastor. How you been.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I've been doing great, Mike.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Good to be with you, and you know, I mean,
we're in summer months, so we kind of travel a
little bit. And I hate it when I'm not with you.
I hate, you know, I hate to put the burden
on you to go solo.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The whole time.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, something I don't. I can't lie on faith in
the zone. It's okay, Pastor, you travel, You travel. All
you need is travel. Brother. I got James and Josh
and Jay. You know what, James could be my co
host next time, and Josh can can do all the recording.
But you just keep coming back.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It's time to help you.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Hey, by the way, celebrating forty two years marriage today,
June eleventh, congraduation.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Congraduation.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
She gets Terry. Yeah, well, Terry congratulated. My wife took
a run at the championship. Baby, she got all this,
and so I keep telling her and she's like, take
out the garbage man. Really, but what are you talking about? Hey,
I'm excited for today's show. So, as you know, because
we've been doing this show a long time, there are
weeks and months that we have four, five, six, seven
(01:49):
people in that funnel, and then the funnel gets a
little bit dry, and I start sending emails to introduce myself.
And I sent one to Rob Jones, who's the head
men's basketball coach at Cedar University in Cedarville, Ohio, and
I sent one like, I don't know, four in the
morning or something. Rob immediately, probably eight o'clock that day,
(02:10):
sent me an email back and said, here's my son number,
give me a call. Would love to come on Faith
in the Zone. So for the entire hour today, our
special guest, the head men's basketball coach at Cedarville University.
It's Rob Jones. Hey, coach, how you been.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm doing wonderful. Thanks for having me on, guys, I
really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, you bet, really, thank you for your time, coach.
How long have you been at Cedarville? Is this here
two for you? Coming up?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I haven't even made it to the year one March?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Oh here you Joel.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, I'm coming up on a year, so one season
and it'll be a year in August.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Okay, so too. So this upcoming season is your second
season at Cedarville. How did your one go for you? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
We did all right. We ended up we were thirteen
and sixteen. I had inherited a program that had had
a lot of success the year before I got here.
They had graduated six seniors and a ton of really
good players, and so we knew that we were kind
of in a rebuild mode in terms of just the
(03:18):
experience that we had on the roster. So our two
leading scorers and leading rebounders were both freshmen, had another
sophomore that was a good player for us. So we
were young and inexperienced, but we liked the foundation that
we've built.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Hey, Rob, when we talked a couple of days ago,
I asked you about your experience at Liberty University and
on coach McKay's staff, and you said, look, I was
there two years, and with the relationships that I built,
I might as well have been there twenty Those were
two really good years for you. Correct.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yes, Yeah, I loved my time at Liberty. I'm so blessed.
I have been at wonderful places. I worked for amazing men,
worked with incredible people, and got to coach awesome kids.
So my two years at Liberty were terrific for me
as a coach, as a as a mentor, as a mentee.
(04:16):
It was it was a wonderful experience.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Hey Rob, how many years have you been a coach
or how many years have you been coaching?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, so I'm coming up with this on my twenty
fourth year in coaching, had a couple of years and
at the high school level, had a year as a
volunteer assistant at the University of Alabama Huntsville, a Division
two school, was my very first step into college basketball.
And then I was at the University of Richmond for
seventeen years, wonderful years, and then Liberty for two and
(04:48):
then heading into year two here at Cedarville.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Hey, coach, when you talk about the team that's coming
up and you talk about freshmen and sophomores, got to
feel pretty good about out about what's coming up in
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Correct, Yes, Yeah, very exciting. I think we've we returned
a nice core of of young men and we and
we added some players that are coming in a mix
of transfers and freshmen. I think they really fit our
university well. They did our coaching staff well. I think
(05:24):
they fit one another. So I'm really excited about the
group we've we've got as similar assembled for this coming year.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So, Rob, what you know, are you're in the n
c DOUAA Division III? Are you in A I? A?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What?
Speaker 4 (05:37):
What?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
What are what league or competition are you are you facing? Yeah,
we're in c.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
DOUAA Division two, So we're in the We're in the
Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Referred to as the as the GMAC.
It's a terrifically really good basketball tradition there and so
we feel we feel honored to be a part of
Division two in the GMAC.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Our special guest for the entire hour, he's Rob Jones,
the head men's basketball coach at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.
And I'm looking at the roster. I don't see any
Wisconsin ties their coach. We got to get moving on that,
I know.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
We Actually, we do have a young man that's joined
on us next year that's from Appleton, Wisconsin. Sure, he's
a transfer coming into us. He was at one on
the state for his first couple of years, but he'll
be joining us and we're really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Do you know offhand what high school he went to
in Wisconsin? In Appleton Appleton East, I believe, Okay, yeah,
I coached a lot a number of games at Appleton Xavier.
When I was coaching, I wondered if maybe you picked
off one of the Xavier kids. But you know, once
you get one kid from Wisconsin, you're gonna want to
(06:51):
get three or four of them. That's what I'm thinking, coach,
and I can help you with that, no doubt I can.
I can definitely. You know, the state of Wisconsin, we
have one Division two program in Parkside UW Parkside, which
is in Kenosha, and if you look at their roster,
it's half Wisconsin, half Illinois, or three quarters of Illinois
and a quarter of Wisconsin. But the kids here, if
(07:13):
they're looking at Division two and not getting recruited by Parkside,
they end up going up to Wana or someplace in
Minnesota that can offer them some sort of scholarship. And
there are some really good basketball being played at the
high school level here in the state. And as we
talked about it, if I can help you with any
of the coaches or kids in this area, please let
(07:35):
me know. Hey, we had kind of made joking about
man and man and zone. I know the pastor wants
in the first segment always to talk about why aren't
you playing that Syracuse zone. But let's talk a little
bit about about your coaching philosophy. Look, I coached thirty
six years and I just stole things from people and
then I made it my own. Right, I'd put a
(07:57):
little tweak on it. Wondering your back ground on the
type of coach that you are. Now, did you did
you learn more about kind of your what you want
to do from from your days at Liberty or prior
to that.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah? Well, first off, Pastor Ken, if if I had
the link that Syracuse has, and certainly in the heyday
when they when they were so incredible at the two
three zone where they stretched across seven feet six eight six,
I mean if I had all that length, I might
think about that two three zone as well. They covered
(08:35):
up the court nicely.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yeah. Hey, hey, coach hold On a Calvary Baptist our
center was six'. One our forms were Like Johnny olsen
at five to. Ten i'm not doing. That we're still.
ARGUING i RIB i got to tell you this and
you'll love. This as, Coach Pastor ken is my. Friend
he's also a parent of KIDS i, coached and the
(08:58):
head pastor at the church that they. Go so after,
games when he would come to talk to me and
you know and let me know what he was, THINKING
i would ask him WHO i was talking to BECAUSE
i have a different answer from my friend THAT i
do my head pastor THAT i do a, parent BECAUSE
i have a twenty four ru hour. Rule don't talk
to me for twenty four hours after a. Game that's for,
(09:19):
parents head. Pastor i've got to say yes or, no.
Sir but if you're coming to me as my, FRIEND
i got a few things to tell.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
You it was a beautiful, Relationship, ROB i see how
to tell you it's a beautiful.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Relation can we look up in the dictionary the word
beautiful and give me the definition of what beautiful is
Because i'm not sure i'd agree with. THAT i have
to be honest with, You, Ro i'm getting back to
your philosophy as a basketball. Coach give me an idea
on do you like to get the ball down the?
Floor are you looking to take some time off the shot?
Clock what kind of coach are?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
You? Yeah, WELL i have been so shaped by the
men That i've worked for and again in a wonderful.
WAY i worked for For Chris mooney at The university
Of richmond for seventeen, years and that was for. You
when you spend that amount of time with with somebody
(10:11):
and doing it a certain, way it naturally just becomes
ingrained at you in so many. Ways SO i love
the way that we played At. RICHMOND i love the
way that we played it At liberty and working for
Coach richie, McKay who is a phenomenal. Coach SO i
learned so much AND i Am everything THAT i THAT
(10:32):
i do as a head coach is directly shaped from
those experiences At. Richmond just So, pastor can you'll appreciate.
This we we played a little matchup zone At richmond
for years and, years so over a decade we played
a matchup zone that if you if you came down two,
thirds you, know the right two thirds side of the,
(10:56):
court you were kind of it looked like it was
a one two two. Zone if you came down the you,
know the far left hand side of the, court it
looked like it was a two three. Zone so it
was a little bit you, know distorting in some. Ways
and then we would pass off. Cutters we we did
a lot of a lot of we had and we
had a lot of success with. That but as the
(11:17):
game kind of, evolved as the game the skillfulness really
sped up and decision making and all that, stuff the
matchup zone became problematic and so we ended up transitioning
and becoming an Exclusive Manda man team and and experienced
some really good success with that And, honestly that shaped
(11:37):
me probably more than anything as a, coach in realizing
that you could change the style of play in such
a dramatic, way and and that they could both. Work
on the flip side of, that they can both fail.
Too that's the major of. Basketball BUT i was shaped.
GREATLY i was shaped greatly by. That so we prime
(12:00):
merely are are a man a man team now and
uh AND i feel really comfortable about. That BUT i
won't say that we're not ever gonna gonna make a
little bit of a, change BECAUSE i do think basketball
players are skillful enough and good enough that you need
to have a curve. Ball you need to be able
to switch the rhythm of the game a little, bit
(12:21):
especially on the.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Defense oh, Yeah, LIKE i totally like what you're. Saying. Wrong,
absolutely you never.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Said those words to me WHEN i was coaching. HIM
i really like those. Words before we get to a,
Break before we get to a, break our special Guest Rob,
jones headman's basketball coach At Cedarville. University, hey, COACH i
DON'T i don't mean to, UH i don't mean to
pour salt in the. Wound but seventy two seventy one
in overtime Against Thomas more the last. Game. Man, YEAH
(12:50):
i gotta believe you've watched that tape a few times
and and, uh a couple of sleepless nights on losing
to the number four you beat the number one seed
fish only sixty seven sixty five on the fourth and
then three days Later march, seven you get beat on
one and. Overtime as, coaches you probably don't remember much
(13:11):
of The findley, game but you sure remember everything about
that time A smore, game don't.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
You. Yeah, well And I'M i am actually. THANKFUL i
do remember a lot about that friendly. Game they were they,
were you, know ranked fourteenth in the country at the,
time and for us to go into their place and
win that as the eight, seed beating the one, seed
the regular season, Champion, uh that was a pretty special
night And i'm very thankful for. That but going on
(13:36):
to the semifinals where we where we lost in, Overtime,
yeah we literally were a rebound away from from winning
that game and going on to the to the conference
championship again with a young and experienced. Team BUT i
was proud of our group because we continue to grow
throughout the, season AND i really feel like we were
playing our best basketball at the end of the, season
(13:57):
which every coach if you asked them that they. Would, so,
YEAH i just want to keep getting better and be
the best team we can be at the end of the.
Season SO i was thankful for. That our, group really
they were resilient and just kept. Going we we certainly
had many shortcomings along the, way but, again that's Why
i'm so excited about the future because you know the
(14:18):
guys that were, again so many the guys that were
contributing in those in those games are.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Coming back to The that's. Awesome we're going to get
to a break our special guests for the entire. Hour
we'll ask him to share his testimony on the other
side of the, break He's Rob jones, again the headmen's
basketball coach At Cedarville University division. Two they're in THE Gmat.
Conference they are located In, Cedarville. Ohio this Is faith
in The zone On Fox sports ninety twenty and Your
(14:46):
iHeart Radio. App welcome back To faith in The zone
On Fox sports nine twenty and Your iHeart Radio. App
I'm mike McGivern alongside the extremely Funny today Pastor Ken
caltoner From Brookside Baptist. Church you should bring some of
that humor to That sunday. PAL i did try to
bring a little human, yeah. Fling, no you're, Good you're.
(15:09):
Good we're coming from The donovan And Jorgensen heating And Cooling.
Studios any issues you're having with YOUR hvac, system the
largest employee OWNED hvac company in the stay Of. Wisconsin
they'll take great care of. You go To Donovan jordanson
dot com our special. Guest he just lit me up
during the. Break by the, WAY i loved. It, YEAH
i know that was a good. Line you're gonna use that,
(15:30):
line aren't.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Absolutely he Is.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Rob, jones head basketball coach head men's basketball coach At Cedarville,
university located In, Cedarville. Ohio, Hey, rob before we ask
you to share your, testimony what did you know About
Cedarville university before you took the? Job very?
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Little, Actually i'm. Not i'm not from the. AREA i.
HAD i had not spent a ton of time in
the state Of. OHIO i knew the previous coach here
and had known that he had done a really good.
JOB i knew that it was A christian, university but
really did not know too much about. It, honestly that's
(16:10):
how you. Know god worked it and opened a door for,
us and there ended up being so much alignment just
in the discovery process of. It it was pretty, Amazing
man's BUT i didn't know a ton about.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
It, yeah that's, awesome, Hey. Rob the second segment on
faith in His zone is our, favorite so one that
we get the most response from and where we ask
our guests to share their testimony and if you would
be so.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Kind, well the funny thing is IS i think that
when it comes To i've been asked several times in
my life to share my, testimony AND i, thought, well,
gosh this could be this could be an eight hour,
presentation you, know because it's essentially my. Life AND i
think that one of the things That i'm so thankful
(16:57):
for THAT i. WAS i was blessed to be raised
in A christian. Home my father was a minister of
music At baptist churches and eventually went on to work
for The Baptist. Convention my mother was a secretary in the,
church and so we used to joke about. It i've
got an older. Sister we used to joke about it
(17:18):
that every time the doors of the church were, open
we were, there And i'm so thankful for, that and
SO i Accepted christ IN i was thirteen years. Old
it was at a summer. CAMP i think a lot
of people that were raised in the. Church that's a
pretty common. Story SO i don't think that my testimony
(17:39):
is unique in many. Ways, HOWEVER i think oftentimes we
can think that our faith walk is just going to
be this, natural you, know incline throughout our, life and
we're just going to grow and grow and. Grow and
that was certainly not the case for. Me even THOUGH
i had Accepted, CHRIST i had many times WHERE i
(18:01):
had strayed far from that path and then would be
lovingly and gracefully brought. Back and sometimes that was through
relationships with. People sometimes that was members at a, church
teammates and, sports all those different. Things But i'm so
thankful for. That and AS i have gone through life
(18:24):
and gone through my faith, Walk god has been so
patient with. Me and so if there's any theme that
WHEN i think of my testimony AND i think of
my life and my walk With, CHRIST i think of
the Famous Eugene peterson line of long obedience in the same,
direction and even THOUGH i have gotten off course from
(18:45):
time to, time the gentle nudge to be brought back
to that path and to continue my walk With him
has been prevalent throughout and As i've gotten, married And
i've been married for coming up on twenty four. Years
my wife is an amazing woman and absolutely loves The.
Lord And i'm so thankful that that we get to,
(19:08):
do we get to do life together in that, way
and So i'm thankful for. That but that would be
that'd be the, shortest the most brief version of my
testimony THAT i could probably give.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
You rob thank you for you, know sharing, that and
what a what an impact obviously your parents, had you,
know in your, life and the same for me as
my parents who my dad Was Air force and it
was while he's in The Air force a couple studying
for ministry In, Greenville South, carolina befriended my parents and
(19:42):
shared The gospel with, them and and you, know my
parents the first time they heard, it they didn't come To.
Christ but over time they finally, said you know, what
We're he's, right we're sinners and we Need Christ jesus
to be our. Savior and then my dad pastored for
for fifty, years primarily In oklahoma and then out In Color, Springs.
Colorado the one thing that you said that reminded me
(20:06):
a little bit when we Interviewed Tony. Dungee when you're
talking about my sister AND i used to always you,
said your, sister and you used to always talk about,
man we're always being kind of taking the church when
the doors are. Open he said it this. Way he, said,
WELL i had a drug. Problem you, know even as
a young, BOY i. WAS i was drugged to, church you,
(20:28):
Know sunday, Morning sunday, night all the. Time and he,
said even drug down into the basement On thursday nights
from my mom to to practice on us For sunday.
School she Taught sunday school and she'd give A bible
lesson so On sundays he, Said mom already heard it On.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thursday she, goes that's, okay you.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Need to hear it.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Again so you're you're going to be there On.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Sunday SO i just.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Always thought that was an interesting way he said. It
but really that was my testimony. Too it sounded like
that was your. TESTIMONY i remember after a baseball, GAME
i was in my baseball, UNIFORM i Told, DAD I
i can't.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
GO i can't go to.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Church you.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Know he, Goes, oh, yeah you're going in your baseball.
Uniform you're going to be. There so it sounds a
lot like how you were how you were brought. Up
your parents were focused on being faithful To lord and
making sure you're at.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Church, yes, indeed and Again i'm so thankful for. THAT
i think that As i've gotten older and, again once
it became my personal relationship With christ and it became
my personal faith, walk that's when it became really fun
(21:34):
and it is something that it continued to shape. ME
i went to public school all throughout high, school and
then it ended up going to A christian, college and
in many, ways even THOUGH i was raised in A christian,
home that was. Hard that was hard for me to
(21:54):
be in to be in that, setting but it was
transformational for me and the people THAT i met during that,
time the things THAT i was THAT i was learning
during that, time and, eventually AND i think this has
been a little bit of a theme of my life
has just been saturation THAT i THINK i always Joke
(22:16):
i'm a slow, learner and so it takes repetitive themes
and lessons and all those, things and So i'm so
thankful That god has been so patient with, me and
others people in my life have been patient with me
in helping me to grow in my understanding and to
grow in my spiritual disciplines and eventually become WHO i
(22:40):
demand THAT i am. Today AND i am, far, far
far from, Perfect But i'm so thankful That god's put
me in a position WHERE i now get TO i
get to coach young men in a way that points
directly To. Christ AND i think That i've had a
lifetime of coaching Where i've never hidden the fact THAT
(23:02):
i was A, christian and over the Years god has
allowed me opportunities to speak into the lives of young
men and to help. Them and sometimes that was evangelism
and sometimes that was. Discipleship But i'm so thankful THAT
i now get to be in a position, where on
a daily, basis that is the direction that we're you,
(23:25):
know that we're aiming for in our. Program and, again
we don't do it, perfectly you, know we drey and
we we get bumped off course from time to, time
but our pursuit is, real our pursuit is, genuine and
we want as a coaching, staff we want to we
want to make sure that our young men understand that
their identity is not in, basketball that their identity rests In.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Christ, now you, Know mike AND i often talk about
the powerful influence that a coach can have in the
lives of of their. Players and you know your your
personal relationship with The. Lord i'm sure you know none
of us are, perfect but just listen to, You, Rob
(24:09):
i'm sure the guys really benefit from your walk with The.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
LORD i have one.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Question was there someone you know as you grew up
in A christian, home was there someone a coach or
another player in your time that really helped you continue
to really, Grow let's, say in that sanctification process where
you're becoming more and more Like. Christ was there kind
of like one that or maybe a couple that stood
(24:35):
out to you that really helped.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
You, yeah and you know WHAT I Pastor, Ken i've
been asked this question many times over the, years AND
i struggle with the, answer one being that there's not just.
One i'm so thankful That god has put so many
men in my life that have shaped me and molded
me and mentored. Me forgiven me all those. Things so
(25:02):
some of those are elders in my. Church some of
those are other. Coaches you Know richie McKay WHO i
worked for, again as AS i joked about it With,
mike he had asked, me you, know how long were
you At Liberty AND i, said, well just two, years
but RELATIONALLY i was there for, decades and SO i.
WAS i was super thankful for, That and Obviously richie
(25:25):
Had uh had a huge part of. That we had
people that were close to our program At liberty that
THAT i became great friends, with that that really helped
me and helped disciple me in so many. Ways SO
i don't know THAT i can Name. Uh we don't
have enough time for me to go down the laundry
(25:45):
list to name them. All But i'm so thankful for.
Him AND i think, again that's HOW i tell our
guys all the, time that this is How god continues
to work in us and through, us is by not
only using the bed to speak to, us but also
others and so the people and the, men the, teammates
(26:06):
the Coaches i've worked, with elders in the. Church there's
just so many of, them AND i am so grateful for.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Them we are talking With Rob jones, again the head
men's basketball coach At Cedarville university In, Cedarville, ohio and
guys that listen to, this a lot of, coaches a
lot of parents listen to this. Show if you have
somebody that you think would fit at The division two
level that can, play, yeah look if there's six,' ten,
(26:36):
Even BETTER but i don't know if we're going to
be able to. Do that but if there's a coach
that you think that your son would would be able to, Play,
For look i've Talked To rob jones three, four TIMES
and i feel very comfortable sending my son to Play
at cedarville to under. His direction and look when, he,
(26:57):
says look we don't do. Everything correctly, we try, but obviously,
you know life gets in, the way and as a,
basketball team we're trying to. Do THAT and i love
the fact that that he is willing and he's so
open to share his testimony not only with, his team
but to the staff and the people and. THAT campus
i think is. VERY encouraging i want to go back
(27:19):
to your testimony when you talked about being thirteen years
old at a, summer CAMP and i have to tell
you coach as churches to put their summer, camps together
and there are people in every church.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
THAT go i.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Don't know that's a lot, of work a lot of
sweat equity that we have to put in to put
that summer. CAMP on i want people to know that
we get more and more testimonies of, people, saying LOOK
when i, was TWELVE when i, was TEN when i,
WAS thirteen i was at summer CAMP when I Accepted
jesus christ as my. Personal SAVIOR and i want to
(27:54):
encourage any of the pastors or any of the people
at other churches to understand how important and.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
That, is yeah. Without QUESTION and i think, that oftentimes
and this is somewhat of a societal thing that we
want to see instant returns, on everything and that's just
really not how not how it works for most. Of
them AND so i think that the planning of those
seeds are. Incredibly IMPORTANT and i think that there's a
(28:23):
great QUOTE that, i love like life has, lived forward
but it's understood and reverse AND and i Think that
god has continued to open my eyes to things that
have happened years and, years ago and it's just almost
a way of it's A it's god's little wink to
ME saying i was taking care of you long before. You, knew.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Yeah exactly and, so Yeah and I'm so i'm so
thankful for those opportunities to have been At a christian
Camp that i'm sure in MANY ways i was, probably
like you, Know what i'd.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
Really rather go to basketball camp.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
That, Week yeah i'm Really.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Rather i'd rather play baseball. That Week but i'm thankful
that my parents guided me in a way and they didn't,
force me but they guided me in a way that
helped to shape things and keep things in, the proper.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Proper, perspective, yeah, hey coach what about guys on? The team,
you know you putting something together Outside The, united states,
you know a missions type trip for, you know going into,
a country maybe working with a a, you know a
(29:36):
national team or or other teams in a country to
to use basketball as a means.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
For, evangelism yeah and.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
That's very much the heartbeat of this. University there i'm.
SO thankful i actually my we play in what's Called
The Kallan, athletic center and it's named after a legendary
coach here At At. Cedarville university the Name Of don.
Collen coach callen just turned ninety two, years old just
(30:05):
a couple of, weeks ago and he is an absolute
legend of, a man and he loves the board and
he's got a heart. For missions i'll rewind thirty plus
years ago he started taking basketball teams on, mission trips
mission trips To. The philippines he started. Doing that this
(30:26):
is before there was even a ministry program here at.
The university he is actually responsible for starting the global
ministries program here at. The university And so i'm. So
thankful i'm sitting in my office right Now and i'm
looking At a i'm looking at a replica that, honors
Him and i'm so thankful not only to know him
(30:50):
as a person now and to be able to honor
him in front of our, program Daily but i'm so
thankful for what he did for. This university but even
even bigger than that is what he did To. The
kingdom so that's my long winded way, of, saying yes
that is a heartbeat of what we do Here. At
cedarville we will actually our next trip will be probably
(31:13):
in a couple. Of years it takes a little bit
of time to get THOSE so i don't know the
exact location of where we'll, be going but that that
is something that. We're excited.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
You know on, their roster they've got two players For The.
Czech republic they've got One, from germany One, from poland None.
From wisconsin well, one comment but. He's coming but they
are All OVER and i don't know how you recruit
In The. CZECH republic i don't know how you Recruit,
in Germany, in poland but somebody at that university obviously had,
(31:48):
you know you've opened the doors to be able to
accept kids from all over. The world the fact That
the poland kids six', TEN not bad i would have
probably recruited. Him as well, so while done well, Done
on that we're going to get. You a break other
side of the break will continue Our Conversation. With rob
jones he's the head men's Basketball Coach. At cedarville university They're, Located.
(32:12):
In cedarville Ohio this is Faith in The Zone on
fox sports nine Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Welcome
back to Faith in The Zone on fox sports nine
Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Coming from The Donovan
and Jordansen heating. And Cooling studios i'm mike McGovern alongside
the Head Pastor At, Brookside Baptist Church, pastor ken keltner and,
(32:35):
our SPECIAL guest and i just feel like he's going
to be a friend of ours now for. A long
time he is the head men's Basketball Coach at Cedarville, University.
In cedarville Ohio He. Is, Rob, jones hey rob when
you get a chance to recruit high school age kids
or kids that might you find in the transfer portal
and you get a chance to get in there at
(32:56):
their kitchen table or, their living room can you talk
a little bit about what you talk about when it
comes to you as it as a basketball coach and
then being On campus at cedarville and what it takes
for kids that are seniors in high school to play at.
The next, level, for you.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
Yeah of course the recruiting of student athletes has it's
a relational thing by the. Root, of it however the
way that things are now, with the transferfordal, with scholarship
offers with this like everything has really gotten sped. Up
(33:34):
over time and so with, that being said we Are
a distinctly christian university like it, is it, is you
know really weaved into every, aspect, of classes, sports social life.
You name it and so one of THE things that
i have to do in our very first conversation with
(33:55):
the young man and his parents is is to find
out some, very specific things to find out if it's
alignment with. Who we ARE and so, i tell, people
you know we're super, authentic ABOUT it but i tell
people that the people that we want in, our locker
room we want guys That, love the lord Absolutely. Love
(34:15):
the lord, they love basketball and. They love growth they
want to grow in every aspect. Of THEIR life and
i think that if if it's a combination of those
three things that You, love the lord, you love basketball,
you love growth and You're seeking, a christian university like
this is an incredible environment for you to be in
(34:36):
and have a chance To be who god has created.
YOU to be i think that is when you absolutely
have an opportunity to, operate in, freedom and everyone whether
you're a, believer or not everybody wants to. Operate in
freedom that's when you feel like you're. At YOUR best
and i think that, as a person, as an athlete
you wrap. That all together the only way you're going
(34:59):
to experience that them is to be Walking closely with
god to be able to steward, those gifts well to
be able to fulfill the gifts that. He'd given you
and so that's kind of that's how we would, roll
it out and we, would, say like hey if that's
in alignment with who you are and who you, want
to be who you want to, BECOME the man i
think this could be a great.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Place, for you hey coach so and listening to that you.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
You really the university doesn't look at their sports as,
an evangelistic Outreach is.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
What i'm hearing that they.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Need to be they need to have a Personal relationship
with christ to be able to come.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
To, see you, okay, all right yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah, we are yeah THIS is a, i would say
this is THE best way i can describe it is
that this is a. Discipleship driven university and that's not.
JUST our program i want our program to, be that
way but that's going to be whether that's, a science class,
a maths class a foreign language, by the professors the people,
that the administrators the people here. On this campus they,
(36:05):
want all students all students to grow in a depth
of Relationship.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
With the, lord you know when when we Had doctor
Ed Gomes. FROM liberty on i had that question for,
him as well and do you just do You? Only
recruit christians and where my Son Went Marin Atha, baptist
bible college they used to talk about trying to open
the doors up a little bit and get get guys
that aren't, necessarily walking worthy but then to help them.
(36:34):
In that WALK and when i Talk To doctor ed,
gomes about, that, he said look we feel like if
if we can get, guys on campus we could introduce
Them to the lord if they have not spent a.
Day in church once they, get on campus they. Understand
the difference and listening to, to you know your kind of,
kitchen table speech it's it's pretty matter, of, fact that
(36:57):
look we're Going to recruit christian. Basket football. Players. Correct
exactly YEAH.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
And and i say, our locker room the makeup of,
our locker room, in all honesty is very similar. To
my church we have we, have infant believers we have
we have ones that are a little bit further, down
the path and we've got guys that are a little
bit more seasoned in terms. Of THEIR depth and i think.
That that's BEAUTIFUL that's what i want for. OUR locker
room i think it's biblical to have a to, have
(37:26):
a pall To, have a barnabas and To have a
timothy in your in YOUR space AND i and i
think that that's wonderful. For our guys but they all
of our guys are our believers in and they are
in different stages on their on their. Walk right Now,
and so.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Rob it seems like THE guys then uh would have
a really good testimony, on the, campus you Know Because
sometimes christian, college is uh the guys you know on
their ball teams don't have the greatest testimony even though
They're at. The christian college, it sounds like was your
your whole philosophy? Of disciple making and even your guys
(38:07):
on their team that are stronger in their Walk with
the lord have a. Great influence there and so the
team has a good. Testimony on campus.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
It does now again were we. Are NOT perfect and
i think athletics on any college campus can be looked
at in a in. A negative light i think sometimes it,
can be well why do the athletes get? To do
this why do the athletes get? To DO that and
i think that that's something that we talk about, with
(38:37):
our guys not just for the. MEN'S basketball team i
think our athletic department talks about that with our with,
our student athletes and what a great opportunity that is
to not. Set YOURSELF apart and i think that that's
one of the beautiful things here. On our campus we've
got five thousand students here that, live on campus and that's,
(38:58):
a you know you're not gonna you're not going to
hide in terms of like especially for our, taller basketball
players like, it's pretty, Obvious you know and so we
think that that's a wonderful opportunity to get outside your
comfort zone of just knowing the basketball guys or just knowing,
the other athletes and to be a part. OF student
body i, THINK that again i take this back to.
(39:20):
The church model if you only hung out with your
small Group or your, sunday SCHOOL class like i think
you're you're probably missing out on a blessing that someone
else may have for you or you may. Have for
them in. YOUR church congregation i think one of, the
you know one of the things that has been wonderful
for me in my LIFE is that i have had
older people, in the church elders, of the church that
(39:43):
have really spoken. Into my life and and if they, would,
have said well he's not in, My age bracket i'm
not going to, TALK to him i would have missed
out on an incredible blessing in getting.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
To know Them He, is rob jones the head men's
Basketball Coach, at cedarville, university and boy this has been.
A good show. It's gone quick we're going to get.
To a break the other side, of the break we
will ask him that question we ask everybody, at the
end all the uniforms he's, ever put on put him
in the cloudse he gets to. Pick one out what
uniform does? He pick out who does? He play? Against
(40:16):
and why we'll ask him that on the other side.
Of the Break this is Faith in The Zone on
fox sports nine Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Welcome
back to Faith in The Zone on fox sports nine
Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Coming from The Donovan
and Jorgensen Heating. And cooling studios, our Special Guest. He's
rob jones it's been, a great show head men's Basketball
(40:39):
Coach at Cedarville, University. In cedarville ohio any, interest you
have go, to that website look up. Their basketball program
get a pretty good idea on how, these guys play,
their coaching staff some of the players, in their backgrounds
and if you have interest in Reaching, out to rob
(40:59):
there's a number of ways to do that. Through, that
website Again Look, up Cedarville University. The mighty yellowjackets we
didn't have Time for. The spider story next time we,
have him on We will have we'll find Out from
coach Jones the. Whole, spider Thing, Yeah With, richmond richmond.
Spiders you know looking. Up his background he did and
(41:20):
it's right. On the website he was on the Staff
that beat. Wisconsin one TIME so if i WOULD have
if i had, SEEN that before i probably wouldn't have
sent him that, that THAT email. But i did. I'm, only,
kidding hey coach, this last segment, it's all short and
this is. A throwaway question we started almost three, years
ago now and it seems to people enjoyed all the
(41:43):
uniforms you've, ever put on from little league baseball right,
pee wee football to, fourth grade basketball all the way
through your when you end it, playing a sport we
put all those uniforms. In a closet you get to
pick one out to play one more game, With that
team what uniform? Do you pick who do? You play? Against,
And why.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
Mike that's such a phenomenal question AND one that i
feel like my brain could stir on this question for
days and. Days and days, I'm so torn so you're
gonna have to bear WITH me as i go through some.
CREATIVE liberties HERE i naturally i wanted to go to.
The college uniform i've played with with some AWESOME guys
(42:28):
that i still am super close with, to this day
and so part of me wants to put on that
to call falls college jersey and and go. Back out
THERE and then i think about the, high SCHOOL days
and i had such a such an incredible experience. Compair
as well we had had a, lot of success went
all the way to the to the final four of,
the state Tournament and so i'm tempted to go. There as,
(42:50):
well but honestly my mind goes goes, back EVEN further
and I think of i think of. LIKE seven grade
I think of aau basketball in the Seventh Grade, In,
jefferson city MISSOURI and AND i think I wish that
(43:10):
i could turn. BACK the clock I wish that i
could go back put that jersey on as A believer
in christ and knowing that my Identity rests in him
and not in the result, of that game and so
that would be the, opponent wouldn't, matter you know all
(43:34):
that stuff. Wouldn't EVEN matter but i wish in it
that in many ways that that that that would be
AN opportunity because i think so much OF my life
i spent with, my identity, being you know resting on,
did we win, did WE lose did? I PLAY well?
Did i, think you know it's just like ALL those
and i know that so many people, wrestle with that
(43:56):
so many athletes. Wrestle with that And Now that i've
i've grown and been able to mature in my, In
my faith i'm thankful for the FREEDOM that that i,
have experienced, by you know by Being. Rooted in CHRIST
and so i wish that IN many ways I would
have i would have been able to do that at
(44:17):
a at a. Much younger.
Speaker 1 (44:19):
Age that's awesome that's, a, great answer COACH and and
i coached my son in au, in seventh, grade sixth,
grade fifth grade, All of THAT and so i understand
that that travel, part of it and you're in hotel
rooms and you're throwing kids in the pool and, all
of THAT and and i love the fact that that
that's the age that that you would go back to
(44:40):
and put. That jersey On He, is rob jones the
head men's Basketball Coach, At, Cedarville. University cedarville ohio and
if you you google that website you could get all
THE bio On i coached jones that if you want,
to reach out if you've, got a player if, you're
a coach You get a division two style player that
you think would fit with what he talked about his
(45:02):
kitchen Table, speech about Look being a christian is the
most important and then let's get you be a better
basketball player and. Then growing faith he would be a
great contact and if you want a, number for him
get a hold Of me and i'll introduce You. To
coach jones thank. You so much coach really. Appreciates your
time i'm. Sure we'll talk i'm going to have You
On my versity blitz basketball show coming up here in a,
(45:25):
couple of months just prior to, the basketball season and
we'll get an idea on making sure you're still playing mostly.
Man and man that's what that's what the phone call
is going.
Speaker 4 (45:34):
To.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
Be about Again He, is rob jones Headmen's Basketball coach.
Cedarville university, Pastor, Thank, you james. Josh well done hopefully
this is where we'll be. Doing this show now we'll figure,
that part out so thank you so much for. Your
hard Work this is Faith in The Zone on fox
sports ninet Twenty And your. iHeart radio app
Welcome to Faith in the Zone on Fox Sports ninet
twenty in your iHeartRadio app. I'm Mike McGivern and I
am really close sitting right next to head pastor at
Brookside Baptist Church, Pastor Ken Kellner. We're kind of coming
from the Donavan and Jorganson Heating and Cooling studios. Man,
this is kind of our guest is kind of a
(00:21):
guinea pig on this show.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, yeah, I think Rob will be okay with it.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I think right well, I gotta think Josh, and think James,
James over At at Brookside, who makes us sound really good,
David over At iHeart normally doing this, but he's not
available today and we're going to try it at Brookside
Baptist Church. This could be our new studio home. I
know James wants to hear that. He's so excited about it.
(00:46):
So excited about it, Pastor. How you been.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I've been doing great, Mike.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Good to be with you, and you know, I mean,
we're in summer months, so we kind of travel a
little bit. And I hate it when I'm not with you.
I hate, you know, I hate to put the burden
on you to go solo.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The whole time.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, something I don't. I can't lie on faith in
the zone. It's okay, Pastor, you travel, You travel. All
you need is travel. Brother. I got James and Josh
and Jay. You know what, James could be my co
host next time, and Josh can can do all the recording.
But you just keep coming back.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It's time to help you.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Hey, by the way, celebrating forty two years marriage today,
June eleventh, congraduation.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Congraduation.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
She gets Terry. Yeah, well, Terry congratulated. My wife took
a run at the championship. Baby, she got all this,
and so I keep telling her and she's like, take
out the garbage man. Really, but what are you talking about? Hey,
I'm excited for today's show. So, as you know, because
we've been doing this show a long time, there are
weeks and months that we have four, five, six, seven
(01:49):
people in that funnel, and then the funnel gets a
little bit dry, and I start sending emails to introduce myself.
And I sent one to Rob Jones, who's the head
men's basketball coach at Cedar University in Cedarville, Ohio, and
I sent one like, I don't know, four in the
morning or something. Rob immediately, probably eight o'clock that day,
(02:10):
sent me an email back and said, here's my son number,
give me a call. Would love to come on Faith
in the Zone. So for the entire hour today, our
special guest, the head men's basketball coach at Cedarville University.
It's Rob Jones. Hey, coach, how you been.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm doing wonderful. Thanks for having me on, guys, I
really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, you bet, really, thank you for your time, coach.
How long have you been at Cedarville? Is this here
two for you? Coming up?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I haven't even made it to the year one March?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Oh here you Joel.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, I'm coming up on a year, so one season
and it'll be a year in August.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Okay, so too. So this upcoming season is your second
season at Cedarville. How did your one go for you? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
We did all right. We ended up we were thirteen
and sixteen. I had inherited a program that had had
a lot of success the year before I got here.
They had graduated six seniors and a ton of really
good players, and so we knew that we were kind
of in a rebuild mode in terms of just the
(03:18):
experience that we had on the roster. So our two
leading scorers and leading rebounders were both freshmen, had another
sophomore that was a good player for us. So we
were young and inexperienced, but we liked the foundation that
we've built.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Hey, Rob, when we talked a couple of days ago,
I asked you about your experience at Liberty University and
on coach McKay's staff, and you said, look, I was
there two years, and with the relationships that I built,
I might as well have been there twenty Those were
two really good years for you. Correct.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yes, Yeah, I loved my time at Liberty. I'm so blessed.
I have been at wonderful places. I worked for amazing men,
worked with incredible people, and got to coach awesome kids.
So my two years at Liberty were terrific for me
as a coach, as a as a mentor, as a mentee.
(04:16):
It was it was a wonderful experience.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Hey Rob, how many years have you been a coach
or how many years have you been coaching?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, so I'm coming up with this on my twenty
fourth year in coaching, had a couple of years and
at the high school level, had a year as a
volunteer assistant at the University of Alabama Huntsville, a Division
two school, was my very first step into college basketball.
And then I was at the University of Richmond for
seventeen years, wonderful years, and then Liberty for two and
(04:48):
then heading into year two here at Cedarville.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Hey, coach, when you talk about the team that's coming
up and you talk about freshmen and sophomores, got to
feel pretty good about out about what's coming up in
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Correct, Yes, Yeah, very exciting. I think we've we returned
a nice core of of young men and we and
we added some players that are coming in a mix
of transfers and freshmen. I think they really fit our
university well. They did our coaching staff well. I think
(05:24):
they fit one another. So I'm really excited about the
group we've we've got as similar assembled for this coming year.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So, Rob, what you know, are you're in the n
c DOUAA Division III? Are you in A I? A?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What?
Speaker 4 (05:37):
What?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
What are what league or competition are you are you facing? Yeah,
we're in c.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
DOUAA Division two, So we're in the We're in the
Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Referred to as the as the GMAC.
It's a terrifically really good basketball tradition there and so
we feel we feel honored to be a part of
Division two in the GMAC.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Our special guest for the entire hour, he's Rob Jones,
the head men's basketball coach at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.
And I'm looking at the roster. I don't see any
Wisconsin ties their coach. We got to get moving on that,
I know.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
We Actually, we do have a young man that's joined
on us next year that's from Appleton, Wisconsin. Sure, he's
a transfer coming into us. He was at one on
the state for his first couple of years, but he'll
be joining us and we're really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Do you know offhand what high school he went to
in Wisconsin? In Appleton Appleton East, I believe, Okay, yeah,
I coached a lot a number of games at Appleton Xavier.
When I was coaching, I wondered if maybe you picked
off one of the Xavier kids. But you know, once
you get one kid from Wisconsin, you're gonna want to
(06:51):
get three or four of them. That's what I'm thinking, coach,
and I can help you with that, no doubt I can.
I can definitely. You know, the state of Wisconsin, we
have one Division two program in Parkside UW Parkside, which
is in Kenosha, and if you look at their roster,
it's half Wisconsin, half Illinois, or three quarters of Illinois
and a quarter of Wisconsin. But the kids here, if
(07:13):
they're looking at Division two and not getting recruited by Parkside,
they end up going up to Wana or someplace in
Minnesota that can offer them some sort of scholarship. And
there are some really good basketball being played at the
high school level here in the state. And as we
talked about it, if I can help you with any
of the coaches or kids in this area, please let
(07:35):
me know. Hey, we had kind of made joking about
man and man and zone. I know the pastor wants
in the first segment always to talk about why aren't
you playing that Syracuse zone. But let's talk a little
bit about about your coaching philosophy. Look, I coached thirty
six years and I just stole things from people and
then I made it my own. Right, I'd put a
(07:57):
little tweak on it. Wondering your back ground on the
type of coach that you are. Now, did you did
you learn more about kind of your what you want
to do from from your days at Liberty or prior
to that.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah? Well, first off, Pastor Ken, if if I had
the link that Syracuse has, and certainly in the heyday
when they when they were so incredible at the two
three zone where they stretched across seven feet six eight six,
I mean if I had all that length, I might
think about that two three zone as well. They covered
(08:35):
up the court nicely.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yeah. Hey, hey, coach hold On a Calvary Baptist our
center was six'. One our forms were Like Johnny olsen
at five to. Ten i'm not doing. That we're still.
ARGUING i RIB i got to tell you this and
you'll love. This as, Coach Pastor ken is my. Friend
he's also a parent of KIDS i, coached and the
(08:58):
head pastor at the church that they. Go so after,
games when he would come to talk to me and
you know and let me know what he was, THINKING
i would ask him WHO i was talking to BECAUSE
i have a different answer from my friend THAT i
do my head pastor THAT i do a, parent BECAUSE
i have a twenty four ru hour. Rule don't talk
to me for twenty four hours after a. Game that's for,
(09:19):
parents head. Pastor i've got to say yes or, no.
Sir but if you're coming to me as my, FRIEND
i got a few things to tell.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
You it was a beautiful, Relationship, ROB i see how
to tell you it's a beautiful.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Relation can we look up in the dictionary the word
beautiful and give me the definition of what beautiful is
Because i'm not sure i'd agree with. THAT i have
to be honest with, You, Ro i'm getting back to
your philosophy as a basketball. Coach give me an idea
on do you like to get the ball down the?
Floor are you looking to take some time off the shot?
Clock what kind of coach are?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
You? Yeah, WELL i have been so shaped by the
men That i've worked for and again in a wonderful.
WAY i worked for For Chris mooney at The university
Of richmond for seventeen, years and that was for. You
when you spend that amount of time with with somebody
(10:11):
and doing it a certain, way it naturally just becomes
ingrained at you in so many. Ways SO i love
the way that we played At. RICHMOND i love the
way that we played it At liberty and working for
Coach richie, McKay who is a phenomenal. Coach SO i
learned so much AND i Am everything THAT i THAT
(10:32):
i do as a head coach is directly shaped from
those experiences At. Richmond just So, pastor can you'll appreciate.
This we we played a little matchup zone At richmond
for years and, years so over a decade we played
a matchup zone that if you if you came down two,
thirds you, know the right two thirds side of the,
(10:56):
court you were kind of it looked like it was
a one two two. Zone if you came down the you,
know the far left hand side of the, court it
looked like it was a two three. Zone so it
was a little bit you, know distorting in some. Ways
and then we would pass off. Cutters we we did
a lot of a lot of we had and we
had a lot of success with. That but as the
(11:17):
game kind of, evolved as the game the skillfulness really
sped up and decision making and all that, stuff the
matchup zone became problematic and so we ended up transitioning
and becoming an Exclusive Manda man team and and experienced
some really good success with that And, honestly that shaped
(11:37):
me probably more than anything as a, coach in realizing
that you could change the style of play in such
a dramatic, way and and that they could both. Work
on the flip side of, that they can both fail.
Too that's the major of. Basketball BUT i was shaped.
GREATLY i was shaped greatly by. That so we prime
(12:00):
merely are are a man a man team now and
uh AND i feel really comfortable about. That BUT i
won't say that we're not ever gonna gonna make a
little bit of a, change BECAUSE i do think basketball
players are skillful enough and good enough that you need
to have a curve. Ball you need to be able
to switch the rhythm of the game a little, bit
(12:21):
especially on the.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Defense oh, Yeah, LIKE i totally like what you're. Saying. Wrong,
absolutely you never.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Said those words to me WHEN i was coaching. HIM
i really like those. Words before we get to a,
Break before we get to a, break our special Guest Rob,
jones headman's basketball coach At Cedarville. University, hey, COACH i
DON'T i don't mean to, UH i don't mean to
pour salt in the. Wound but seventy two seventy one
in overtime Against Thomas more the last. Game. Man, YEAH
(12:50):
i gotta believe you've watched that tape a few times
and and, uh a couple of sleepless nights on losing
to the number four you beat the number one seed
fish only sixty seven sixty five on the fourth and
then three days Later march, seven you get beat on
one and. Overtime as, coaches you probably don't remember much
(13:11):
of The findley, game but you sure remember everything about
that time A smore, game don't.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
You. Yeah, well And I'M i am actually. THANKFUL i
do remember a lot about that friendly. Game they were they,
were you, know ranked fourteenth in the country at the,
time and for us to go into their place and
win that as the eight, seed beating the one, seed
the regular season, Champion, uh that was a pretty special
night And i'm very thankful for. That but going on
(13:36):
to the semifinals where we where we lost in, Overtime,
yeah we literally were a rebound away from from winning
that game and going on to the to the conference
championship again with a young and experienced. Team BUT i
was proud of our group because we continue to grow
throughout the, season AND i really feel like we were
playing our best basketball at the end of the, season
(13:57):
which every coach if you asked them that they. Would, so,
YEAH i just want to keep getting better and be
the best team we can be at the end of the.
Season SO i was thankful for. That our, group really
they were resilient and just kept. Going we we certainly
had many shortcomings along the, way but, again that's Why
i'm so excited about the future because you know the
(14:18):
guys that were, again so many the guys that were
contributing in those in those games are.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Coming back to The that's. Awesome we're going to get
to a break our special guests for the entire. Hour
we'll ask him to share his testimony on the other
side of the, break He's Rob jones, again the headmen's
basketball coach At Cedarville University division. Two they're in THE Gmat.
Conference they are located In, Cedarville. Ohio this Is faith
in The zone On Fox sports ninety twenty and Your
(14:46):
iHeart Radio. App welcome back To faith in The zone
On Fox sports nine twenty and Your iHeart Radio. App
I'm mike McGivern alongside the extremely Funny today Pastor Ken
caltoner From Brookside Baptist. Church you should bring some of
that humor to That sunday. PAL i did try to
bring a little human, yeah. Fling, no you're, Good you're.
(15:09):
Good we're coming from The donovan And Jorgensen heating And Cooling.
Studios any issues you're having with YOUR hvac, system the
largest employee OWNED hvac company in the stay Of. Wisconsin
they'll take great care of. You go To Donovan jordanson
dot com our special. Guest he just lit me up
during the. Break by the, WAY i loved. It, YEAH
i know that was a good. Line you're gonna use that,
(15:30):
line aren't.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Absolutely he Is.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Rob, jones head basketball coach head men's basketball coach At Cedarville,
university located In, Cedarville. Ohio, Hey, rob before we ask
you to share your, testimony what did you know About
Cedarville university before you took the? Job very?
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Little, Actually i'm. Not i'm not from the. AREA i.
HAD i had not spent a ton of time in
the state Of. OHIO i knew the previous coach here
and had known that he had done a really good.
JOB i knew that it was A christian, university but
really did not know too much about. It, honestly that's
(16:10):
how you. Know god worked it and opened a door for,
us and there ended up being so much alignment just
in the discovery process of. It it was pretty, Amazing
man's BUT i didn't know a ton about.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
It, yeah that's, awesome, Hey. Rob the second segment on
faith in His zone is our, favorite so one that
we get the most response from and where we ask
our guests to share their testimony and if you would
be so.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Kind, well the funny thing is IS i think that
when it comes To i've been asked several times in
my life to share my, testimony AND i, thought, well,
gosh this could be this could be an eight hour,
presentation you, know because it's essentially my. Life AND i
think that one of the things That i'm so thankful
(16:57):
for THAT i. WAS i was blessed to be raised
in A christian. Home my father was a minister of
music At baptist churches and eventually went on to work
for The Baptist. Convention my mother was a secretary in the,
church and so we used to joke about. It i've
got an older. Sister we used to joke about it
(17:18):
that every time the doors of the church were, open
we were, there And i'm so thankful for, that and
SO i Accepted christ IN i was thirteen years. Old
it was at a summer. CAMP i think a lot
of people that were raised in the. Church that's a
pretty common. Story SO i don't think that my testimony
(17:39):
is unique in many. Ways, HOWEVER i think oftentimes we
can think that our faith walk is just going to
be this, natural you, know incline throughout our, life and
we're just going to grow and grow and. Grow and
that was certainly not the case for. Me even THOUGH
i had Accepted, CHRIST i had many times WHERE i
(18:01):
had strayed far from that path and then would be
lovingly and gracefully brought. Back and sometimes that was through
relationships with. People sometimes that was members at a, church
teammates and, sports all those different. Things But i'm so
thankful for. That and AS i have gone through life
(18:24):
and gone through my faith, Walk god has been so
patient with. Me and so if there's any theme that
WHEN i think of my testimony AND i think of
my life and my walk With, CHRIST i think of
the Famous Eugene peterson line of long obedience in the same,
direction and even THOUGH i have gotten off course from
(18:45):
time to, time the gentle nudge to be brought back
to that path and to continue my walk With him
has been prevalent throughout and As i've gotten, married And
i've been married for coming up on twenty four. Years
my wife is an amazing woman and absolutely loves The.
Lord And i'm so thankful that that we get to,
(19:08):
do we get to do life together in that, way
and So i'm thankful for. That but that would be
that'd be the, shortest the most brief version of my
testimony THAT i could probably give.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
You rob thank you for you, know sharing, that and
what a what an impact obviously your parents, had you,
know in your, life and the same for me as
my parents who my dad Was Air force and it
was while he's in The Air force a couple studying
for ministry In, Greenville South, carolina befriended my parents and
(19:42):
shared The gospel with, them and and you, know my
parents the first time they heard, it they didn't come To.
Christ but over time they finally, said you know, what
We're he's, right we're sinners and we Need Christ jesus
to be our. Savior and then my dad pastored for
for fifty, years primarily In oklahoma and then out In Color, Springs.
Colorado the one thing that you said that reminded me
(20:06):
a little bit when we Interviewed Tony. Dungee when you're
talking about my sister AND i used to always you,
said your, sister and you used to always talk about,
man we're always being kind of taking the church when
the doors are. Open he said it this. Way he, said,
WELL i had a drug. Problem you, know even as
a young, BOY i. WAS i was drugged to, church you,
(20:28):
Know sunday, Morning sunday, night all the. Time and he,
said even drug down into the basement On thursday nights
from my mom to to practice on us For sunday.
School she Taught sunday school and she'd give A bible
lesson so On sundays he, Said mom already heard it On.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thursday she, goes that's, okay you.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Need to hear it.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Again so you're you're going to be there On.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Sunday SO i just.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Always thought that was an interesting way he said. It
but really that was my testimony. Too it sounded like
that was your. TESTIMONY i remember after a baseball, GAME
i was in my baseball, UNIFORM i Told, DAD I
i can't.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
GO i can't go to.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Church you.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Know he, Goes, oh, yeah you're going in your baseball.
Uniform you're going to be. There so it sounds a
lot like how you were how you were brought. Up
your parents were focused on being faithful To lord and
making sure you're at.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Church, yes, indeed and Again i'm so thankful for. THAT
i think that As i've gotten older and, again once
it became my personal relationship With christ and it became
my personal faith, walk that's when it became really fun
(21:34):
and it is something that it continued to shape. ME
i went to public school all throughout high, school and
then it ended up going to A christian, college and
in many, ways even THOUGH i was raised in A christian,
home that was. Hard that was hard for me to
(21:54):
be in to be in that, setting but it was
transformational for me and the people THAT i met during that,
time the things THAT i was THAT i was learning
during that, time and, eventually AND i think this has
been a little bit of a theme of my life
has just been saturation THAT i THINK i always Joke
(22:16):
i'm a slow, learner and so it takes repetitive themes
and lessons and all those, things and So i'm so
thankful That god has been so patient with, me and
others people in my life have been patient with me
in helping me to grow in my understanding and to
grow in my spiritual disciplines and eventually become WHO i
(22:40):
demand THAT i am. Today AND i am, far, far
far from, Perfect But i'm so thankful That god's put
me in a position WHERE i now get TO i
get to coach young men in a way that points
directly To. Christ AND i think That i've had a
lifetime of coaching Where i've never hidden the fact THAT
(23:02):
i was A, christian and over the Years god has
allowed me opportunities to speak into the lives of young
men and to help. Them and sometimes that was evangelism
and sometimes that was. Discipleship But i'm so thankful THAT
i now get to be in a position, where on
a daily, basis that is the direction that we're you,
(23:25):
know that we're aiming for in our. Program and, again
we don't do it, perfectly you, know we drey and
we we get bumped off course from time to, time
but our pursuit is, real our pursuit is, genuine and
we want as a coaching, staff we want to we
want to make sure that our young men understand that
their identity is not in, basketball that their identity rests In.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Christ, now you, Know mike AND i often talk about
the powerful influence that a coach can have in the
lives of of their. Players and you know your your
personal relationship with The. Lord i'm sure you know none
of us are, perfect but just listen to, You, Rob
(24:09):
i'm sure the guys really benefit from your walk with The.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
LORD i have one.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Question was there someone you know as you grew up
in A christian, home was there someone a coach or
another player in your time that really helped you continue
to really, Grow let's, say in that sanctification process where
you're becoming more and more Like. Christ was there kind
of like one that or maybe a couple that stood
(24:35):
out to you that really helped.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
You, yeah and you know WHAT I Pastor, Ken i've
been asked this question many times over the, years AND
i struggle with the, answer one being that there's not just.
One i'm so thankful That god has put so many
men in my life that have shaped me and molded
me and mentored. Me forgiven me all those. Things so
(25:02):
some of those are elders in my. Church some of
those are other. Coaches you Know richie McKay WHO i
worked for, again as AS i joked about it With,
mike he had asked, me you, know how long were
you At Liberty AND i, said, well just two, years
but RELATIONALLY i was there for, decades and SO i.
WAS i was super thankful for, That and Obviously richie
(25:25):
Had uh had a huge part of. That we had
people that were close to our program At liberty that
THAT i became great friends, with that that really helped
me and helped disciple me in so many. Ways SO
i don't know THAT i can Name. Uh we don't
have enough time for me to go down the laundry
(25:45):
list to name them. All But i'm so thankful for.
Him AND i think, again that's HOW i tell our
guys all the, time that this is How god continues
to work in us and through, us is by not
only using the bed to speak to, us but also
others and so the people and the, men the, teammates
(26:06):
the Coaches i've worked, with elders in the. Church there's
just so many of, them AND i am so grateful for.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Them we are talking With Rob jones, again the head
men's basketball coach At Cedarville university In, Cedarville, ohio and
guys that listen to, this a lot of, coaches a
lot of parents listen to this. Show if you have
somebody that you think would fit at The division two
level that can, play, yeah look if there's six,' ten,
(26:36):
Even BETTER but i don't know if we're going to
be able to. Do that but if there's a coach
that you think that your son would would be able to, Play,
For look i've Talked To rob jones three, four TIMES
and i feel very comfortable sending my son to Play
at cedarville to under. His direction and look when, he,
(26:57):
says look we don't do. Everything correctly, we try, but obviously,
you know life gets in, the way and as a,
basketball team we're trying to. Do THAT and i love
the fact that that he is willing and he's so
open to share his testimony not only with, his team
but to the staff and the people and. THAT campus
i think is. VERY encouraging i want to go back
(27:19):
to your testimony when you talked about being thirteen years
old at a, summer CAMP and i have to tell
you coach as churches to put their summer, camps together
and there are people in every church.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
THAT go i.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Don't know that's a lot, of work a lot of
sweat equity that we have to put in to put
that summer. CAMP on i want people to know that
we get more and more testimonies of, people, saying LOOK
when i, was TWELVE when i, was TEN when i,
WAS thirteen i was at summer CAMP when I Accepted
jesus christ as my. Personal SAVIOR and i want to
(27:54):
encourage any of the pastors or any of the people
at other churches to understand how important and.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
That, is yeah. Without QUESTION and i think, that oftentimes
and this is somewhat of a societal thing that we
want to see instant returns, on everything and that's just
really not how not how it works for most. Of
them AND so i think that the planning of those
seeds are. Incredibly IMPORTANT and i think that there's a
(28:23):
great QUOTE that, i love like life has, lived forward
but it's understood and reverse AND and i Think that
god has continued to open my eyes to things that
have happened years and, years ago and it's just almost
a way of it's A it's god's little wink to
ME saying i was taking care of you long before. You, knew.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Yeah exactly and, so Yeah and I'm so i'm so
thankful for those opportunities to have been At a christian
Camp that i'm sure in MANY ways i was, probably
like you, Know what i'd.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
Really rather go to basketball camp.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
That, Week yeah i'm Really.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Rather i'd rather play baseball. That Week but i'm thankful
that my parents guided me in a way and they didn't,
force me but they guided me in a way that
helped to shape things and keep things in, the proper.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Proper, perspective, yeah, hey coach what about guys on? The team,
you know you putting something together Outside The, united states,
you know a missions type trip for, you know going into,
a country maybe working with a a, you know a
(29:36):
national team or or other teams in a country to
to use basketball as a means.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
For, evangelism yeah and.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
That's very much the heartbeat of this. University there i'm.
SO thankful i actually my we play in what's Called
The Kallan, athletic center and it's named after a legendary
coach here At At. Cedarville university the Name Of don.
Collen coach callen just turned ninety two, years old just
(30:05):
a couple of, weeks ago and he is an absolute
legend of, a man and he loves the board and
he's got a heart. For missions i'll rewind thirty plus
years ago he started taking basketball teams on, mission trips
mission trips To. The philippines he started. Doing that this
(30:26):
is before there was even a ministry program here at.
The university he is actually responsible for starting the global
ministries program here at. The university And so i'm. So
thankful i'm sitting in my office right Now and i'm
looking At a i'm looking at a replica that, honors
Him and i'm so thankful not only to know him
(30:50):
as a person now and to be able to honor
him in front of our, program Daily but i'm so
thankful for what he did for. This university but even
even bigger than that is what he did To. The
kingdom so that's my long winded way, of, saying yes
that is a heartbeat of what we do Here. At
cedarville we will actually our next trip will be probably
(31:13):
in a couple. Of years it takes a little bit
of time to get THOSE so i don't know the
exact location of where we'll, be going but that that
is something that. We're excited.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
You know on, their roster they've got two players For The.
Czech republic they've got One, from germany One, from poland None.
From wisconsin well, one comment but. He's coming but they
are All OVER and i don't know how you recruit
In The. CZECH republic i don't know how you Recruit,
in Germany, in poland but somebody at that university obviously had,
(31:48):
you know you've opened the doors to be able to
accept kids from all over. The world the fact That
the poland kids six', TEN not bad i would have
probably recruited. Him as well, so while done well, Done
on that we're going to get. You a break other
side of the break will continue Our Conversation. With rob
jones he's the head men's Basketball Coach. At cedarville university They're, Located.
(32:12):
In cedarville Ohio this is Faith in The Zone on
fox sports nine Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Welcome
back to Faith in The Zone on fox sports nine
Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Coming from The Donovan
and Jordansen heating. And Cooling studios i'm mike McGovern alongside
the Head Pastor At, Brookside Baptist Church, pastor ken keltner and,
(32:35):
our SPECIAL guest and i just feel like he's going
to be a friend of ours now for. A long
time he is the head men's Basketball Coach at Cedarville, University.
In cedarville Ohio He. Is, Rob, jones hey rob when
you get a chance to recruit high school age kids
or kids that might you find in the transfer portal
and you get a chance to get in there at
(32:56):
their kitchen table or, their living room can you talk
a little bit about what you talk about when it
comes to you as it as a basketball coach and
then being On campus at cedarville and what it takes
for kids that are seniors in high school to play at.
The next, level, for you.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
Yeah of course the recruiting of student athletes has it's
a relational thing by the. Root, of it however the
way that things are now, with the transferfordal, with scholarship
offers with this like everything has really gotten sped. Up
(33:34):
over time and so with, that being said we Are
a distinctly christian university like it, is it, is you
know really weaved into every, aspect, of classes, sports social life.
You name it and so one of THE things that
i have to do in our very first conversation with
(33:55):
the young man and his parents is is to find
out some, very specific things to find out if it's
alignment with. Who we ARE and so, i tell, people
you know we're super, authentic ABOUT it but i tell
people that the people that we want in, our locker
room we want guys That, love the lord Absolutely. Love
(34:15):
the lord, they love basketball and. They love growth they
want to grow in every aspect. Of THEIR life and
i think that if if it's a combination of those
three things that You, love the lord, you love basketball,
you love growth and You're seeking, a christian university like
this is an incredible environment for you to be in
(34:36):
and have a chance To be who god has created.
YOU to be i think that is when you absolutely
have an opportunity to, operate in, freedom and everyone whether
you're a, believer or not everybody wants to. Operate in
freedom that's when you feel like you're. At YOUR best
and i think that, as a person, as an athlete
you wrap. That all together the only way you're going
(34:59):
to experience that them is to be Walking closely with
god to be able to steward, those gifts well to
be able to fulfill the gifts that. He'd given you
and so that's kind of that's how we would, roll
it out and we, would, say like hey if that's
in alignment with who you are and who you, want
to be who you want to, BECOME the man i
think this could be a great.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Place, for you hey coach so and listening to that you.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
You really the university doesn't look at their sports as,
an evangelistic Outreach is.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
What i'm hearing that they.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Need to be they need to have a Personal relationship
with christ to be able to come.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
To, see you, okay, all right yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah, we are yeah THIS is a, i would say
this is THE best way i can describe it is
that this is a. Discipleship driven university and that's not.
JUST our program i want our program to, be that
way but that's going to be whether that's, a science class,
a maths class a foreign language, by the professors the people,
that the administrators the people here. On this campus they,
(36:05):
want all students all students to grow in a depth
of Relationship.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
With the, lord you know when when we Had doctor
Ed Gomes. FROM liberty on i had that question for,
him as well and do you just do You? Only
recruit christians and where my Son Went Marin Atha, baptist
bible college they used to talk about trying to open
the doors up a little bit and get get guys
that aren't, necessarily walking worthy but then to help them.
(36:34):
In that WALK and when i Talk To doctor ed,
gomes about, that, he said look we feel like if
if we can get, guys on campus we could introduce
Them to the lord if they have not spent a.
Day in church once they, get on campus they. Understand
the difference and listening to, to you know your kind of,
kitchen table speech it's it's pretty matter, of, fact that
(36:57):
look we're Going to recruit christian. Basket football. Players. Correct
exactly YEAH.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
And and i say, our locker room the makeup of,
our locker room, in all honesty is very similar. To
my church we have we, have infant believers we have
we have ones that are a little bit further, down
the path and we've got guys that are a little
bit more seasoned in terms. Of THEIR depth and i think.
That that's BEAUTIFUL that's what i want for. OUR locker
room i think it's biblical to have a to, have
(37:26):
a pall To, have a barnabas and To have a
timothy in your in YOUR space AND i and i
think that that's wonderful. For our guys but they all
of our guys are our believers in and they are
in different stages on their on their. Walk right Now,
and so.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Rob it seems like THE guys then uh would have
a really good testimony, on the, campus you Know Because
sometimes christian, college is uh the guys you know on
their ball teams don't have the greatest testimony even though
They're at. The christian college, it sounds like was your
your whole philosophy? Of disciple making and even your guys
(38:07):
on their team that are stronger in their Walk with
the lord have a. Great influence there and so the
team has a good. Testimony on campus.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
It does now again were we. Are NOT perfect and
i think athletics on any college campus can be looked
at in a in. A negative light i think sometimes it,
can be well why do the athletes get? To do
this why do the athletes get? To DO that and
i think that that's something that we talk about, with
(38:37):
our guys not just for the. MEN'S basketball team i
think our athletic department talks about that with our with,
our student athletes and what a great opportunity that is
to not. Set YOURSELF apart and i think that that's
one of the beautiful things here. On our campus we've
got five thousand students here that, live on campus and that's,
(38:58):
a you know you're not gonna you're not going to
hide in terms of like especially for our, taller basketball
players like, it's pretty, Obvious you know and so we
think that that's a wonderful opportunity to get outside your
comfort zone of just knowing the basketball guys or just knowing,
the other athletes and to be a part. OF student
body i, THINK that again i take this back to.
(39:20):
The church model if you only hung out with your
small Group or your, sunday SCHOOL class like i think
you're you're probably missing out on a blessing that someone
else may have for you or you may. Have for
them in. YOUR church congregation i think one of, the
you know one of the things that has been wonderful
for me in my LIFE is that i have had
older people, in the church elders, of the church that
(39:43):
have really spoken. Into my life and and if they, would,
have said well he's not in, My age bracket i'm
not going to, TALK to him i would have missed
out on an incredible blessing in getting.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
To know Them He, is rob jones the head men's
Basketball Coach, at cedarville, university and boy this has been.
A good show. It's gone quick we're going to get.
To a break the other side, of the break we
will ask him that question we ask everybody, at the
end all the uniforms he's, ever put on put him
in the cloudse he gets to. Pick one out what
uniform does? He pick out who does? He play? Against
(40:16):
and why we'll ask him that on the other side.
Of the Break this is Faith in The Zone on
fox sports nine Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Welcome
back to Faith in The Zone on fox sports nine
Twenty And Your. iHeart radio app Coming from The Donovan
and Jorgensen Heating. And cooling studios, our Special Guest. He's
rob jones it's been, a great show head men's Basketball
(40:39):
Coach at Cedarville, University. In cedarville ohio any, interest you
have go, to that website look up. Their basketball program
get a pretty good idea on how, these guys play,
their coaching staff some of the players, in their backgrounds
and if you have interest in Reaching, out to rob
(40:59):
there's a number of ways to do that. Through, that
website Again Look, up Cedarville University. The mighty yellowjackets we
didn't have Time for. The spider story next time we,
have him on We will have we'll find Out from
coach Jones the. Whole, spider Thing, Yeah With, richmond richmond.
Spiders you know looking. Up his background he did and
(41:20):
it's right. On the website he was on the Staff
that beat. Wisconsin one TIME so if i WOULD have
if i had, SEEN that before i probably wouldn't have
sent him that, that THAT email. But i did. I'm, only,
kidding hey coach, this last segment, it's all short and
this is. A throwaway question we started almost three, years
ago now and it seems to people enjoyed all the
(41:43):
uniforms you've, ever put on from little league baseball right,
pee wee football to, fourth grade basketball all the way
through your when you end it, playing a sport we
put all those uniforms. In a closet you get to
pick one out to play one more game, With that
team what uniform? Do you pick who do? You play? Against,
And why.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
Mike that's such a phenomenal question AND one that i
feel like my brain could stir on this question for
days and. Days and days, I'm so torn so you're
gonna have to bear WITH me as i go through some.
CREATIVE liberties HERE i naturally i wanted to go to.
The college uniform i've played with with some AWESOME guys
(42:28):
that i still am super close with, to this day
and so part of me wants to put on that
to call falls college jersey and and go. Back out
THERE and then i think about the, high SCHOOL days
and i had such a such an incredible experience. Compair
as well we had had a, lot of success went
all the way to the to the final four of,
the state Tournament and so i'm tempted to go. There as,
(42:50):
well but honestly my mind goes goes, back EVEN further
and I think of i think of. LIKE seven grade
I think of aau basketball in the Seventh Grade, In,
jefferson city MISSOURI and AND i think I wish that
(43:10):
i could turn. BACK the clock I wish that i
could go back put that jersey on as A believer
in christ and knowing that my Identity rests in him
and not in the result, of that game and so
that would be the, opponent wouldn't, matter you know all
(43:34):
that stuff. Wouldn't EVEN matter but i wish in it
that in many ways that that that that would be
AN opportunity because i think so much OF my life
i spent with, my identity, being you know resting on,
did we win, did WE lose did? I PLAY well?
Did i, think you know it's just like ALL those
and i know that so many people, wrestle with that
(43:56):
so many athletes. Wrestle with that And Now that i've
i've grown and been able to mature in my, In
my faith i'm thankful for the FREEDOM that that i,
have experienced, by you know by Being. Rooted in CHRIST
and so i wish that IN many ways I would
have i would have been able to do that at
(44:17):
a at a. Much younger.
Speaker 1 (44:19):
Age that's awesome that's, a, great answer COACH and and
i coached my son in au, in seventh, grade sixth,
grade fifth grade, All of THAT and so i understand
that that travel, part of it and you're in hotel
rooms and you're throwing kids in the pool and, all
of THAT and and i love the fact that that
that's the age that that you would go back to
(44:40):
and put. That jersey On He, is rob jones the
head men's Basketball Coach, At, Cedarville. University cedarville ohio and
if you you google that website you could get all
THE bio On i coached jones that if you want,
to reach out if you've, got a player if, you're
a coach You get a division two style player that
you think would fit with what he talked about his
(45:02):
kitchen Table, speech about Look being a christian is the
most important and then let's get you be a better
basketball player and. Then growing faith he would be a
great contact and if you want a, number for him
get a hold Of me and i'll introduce You. To
coach jones thank. You so much coach really. Appreciates your
time i'm. Sure we'll talk i'm going to have You
On my versity blitz basketball show coming up here in a,
(45:25):
couple of months just prior to, the basketball season and
we'll get an idea on making sure you're still playing mostly.
Man and man that's what that's what the phone call
is going.
Speaker 4 (45:34):
To.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
Be about Again He, is rob jones Headmen's Basketball coach.
Cedarville university, Pastor, Thank, you james. Josh well done hopefully
this is where we'll be. Doing this show now we'll figure,
that part out so thank you so much for. Your
hard Work this is Faith in The Zone on fox
sports ninet Twenty And your. iHeart radio app
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.