Nations of Coaches

Nations of Coaches To see college basketball coaches and all whom they influence impacted for the glory of God. We understand that our Creator made us for a purpose.

Working within a framework of Christian principles, Nations of Coaches strives to see college basketball coaches, their families, and all those whom they influence powerfully impacted for the glory of God. We equip, encourage, and mentor these coaches in their careers and their relationship with God. It is our passion to help lead coaches into greater success in their sport and in their faith walk

. The coaching world is full of challenges. The pressure to succeed, to train, and to produce results creates an intense and often isolating atmosphere. Job turnover, family pressures, even physical health issues come into play. Coaches can begin to feel like they are on an island. All this while trying to balance their commitment to their players. How do you handle tough times? Where do you turn for guidance and support? Whom do you lean on? Just as players need the support of their coaches and teammates, coaches also need a network of people they can trust. Nations of Coaches is a place where a college basketball coach can go for support, whether it's about the technical aspects of the game or help with a player problem or spiritual guidance. We are here to serve, connect, and equip college basketball coaches to leave a legacy of excellence.

At Nations of Coaches, we believe some of the best people to serve coaches are those who have lived the coaching life th...
05/29/2026

At Nations of Coaches, we believe some of the best people to serve coaches are those who have lived the coaching life themselves.

That’s why we’re excited to welcome three new team members who have joined us in recent months:

🏀 Murray Garvin – Regional Director, Kentucky
🏀 Roger Idstrom – Regional Director, Tennessee
🏀 Scott Thompson – Legacy Executive Coordinator

Together, these men bring more than 85 years of coaching experience to our team! They understand the pressure, the sacrifices, the victories, the setbacks, and the unique calling that comes with coaching. Now, they’re using that experience to encourage, equip, and invest in coaches across the country.

Join us in welcoming Murray, Roger, and Scott to the Nations of Coaches family!

That mindset is what makes Cori Close such a powerful example of what coaching can truly be.The best coaches understand ...
05/27/2026

That mindset is what makes Cori Close such a powerful example of what coaching can truly be.

The best coaches understand that their influence reaches far beyond wins, rankings, or trophies. They see the people behind the players. They recognize that the habits, identity, and character built during these years will impact marriages, families, leadership, faith, and life long after basketball ends.

Great coaches don’t just prepare athletes for games.
They prepare people for life.

05/26/2026

A great question asked at the 2026 Coaches Edge at the Men’s Final Four 🏀🔥

There are moments in sports that never show up on a scoreboard, but carry eternal significance.For Zak, basketball becam...
05/19/2026

There are moments in sports that never show up on a scoreboard, but carry eternal significance.

For Zak, basketball became more than a game. In one of the hardest seasons of his life, God used a Character Coach to walk alongside him, pray with him, and point him back to Jesus. This is the kind of impact that reaches far beyond the court.

“I grew up in church at First Redeemer Church, where my basketball journey first started through their sports program, but during my first two years of college basketball, I went through some of the hardest seasons of my life and found myself distant in my faith. After transferring to Life University, I began taking my relationship with Christ more seriously, diving deeper into His Word and truly trying to understand who He is and what it means to live for Him.

On December 3rd, after sharing my story with my Character Coach, Coach Eric Johnson, and praying together, I publicly surrendered my life to Christ, and since then I’ve learned that life without Him is empty, but through His grace and mercy there is purpose, peace, and salvation.” — Zak

This photo was taken at Zak’s baptism! Praise God!

The offseason isn’t just about building better athletes. It’s about building stronger people, healthier cultures, and de...
05/18/2026

The offseason isn’t just about building better athletes. It’s about building stronger people, healthier cultures, and deeper foundations.

This is the season where leadership is formed in quiet gyms, empty offices, early mornings, and intentional conversations. And for coaches who may have never incorporated faith into their life or program before…it’s not too late.

A new season can begin long before the first game tips off. The foundation you lay now, and in your own life, will shape what your team leans on later.

05/10/2026

Before her sons were old enough to play, Priscilla Shirer prayed a specific prayer…That God would bring men into their lives to mentor, disciple, and pour into them beyond their own family. Today, she’s watching that prayer be answered.

Through Nations of Coaches, God has used Character Coaches to shape her sons, not just as athletes, but as young men of faith.

To all the mothers out there…no matter how motherhood found you, or how it finds you today, your prayers matter. The seeds you plant in faith, the tears you cry in private, the love you pour out day after day…God sees it all.

And sometimes, He answers those prayers through the very people and places you never expected.

Happy Mother’s Day to the women who nurture, lead, pray, sacrifice, and love so deeply. Your impact reaches farther than you know.

05/07/2026

Chad Prewett talks about processing false identity and true identity and where we find WHO we really are.

Championships are celebrated. Records are remembered. But identity has to be rooted in something deeper.Tony Bennett’s w...
05/06/2026

Championships are celebrated. Records are remembered. But identity has to be rooted in something deeper.

Tony Bennett’s words remind us that the greatest legacy a coach can leave isn’t found in trophies, but in a life anchored in faith. The foundation you lay in the offseason will shape everything that follows. Not just your season, but your team, your culture, and your impact. And if you’ve never made faith a part of your life or your program, it’s not too late. This could be the season where everything shifts.

Because what you win is temporary, but who you become, and what you build in others, lasts forever.

05/01/2026

You’re not JUST a coach.

Check out Joe Mazzulla talking about the impact Nations of Coaches has had on his life.

Last week, our Nations of Coaches staff had the honor of presenting Character Coach, Kevin Swann, at Old Dominion Univer...
04/28/2026

Last week, our Nations of Coaches staff had the honor of presenting Character Coach, Kevin Swann, at Old Dominion University with the 2025-2026 Herman Robinson Character Coach of the Year Award!

This award honors the legacy of Herman Robinson, a dedicated character coach, and highlights leaders who impact student-athletes beyond the field. Kevin, who is also a full-time pastor, is an outstanding mentor to the young men on the Old Dominion men’s basketball team and works with incredible heart to help build character and a foundation of faith in their lives.

Congratulations, Kevin!

Address

303 D Beltline Place SW Box 231
Decatur, AL
35603

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12565805750

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