Five partners and supporters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be inducted into its Hall of Champions later this year.
Dan Boyd, Heather Goodrich, Dave Krider, Dan Wooldridge and the late Ken Sparks have worked tirelessly to further the FCA vision: to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. FCA Hall of Champions honorees over the years consist of a mix of coaches, athletes and volunteers, including sports greats such as Bobby Bowden, Tony Dungy, Tom Landry, Tom Osborne and Roger Staubach, just to name a few.
“We are thrilled to again welcome a new class into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “These wonderful individuals have not only made contributions to the sports they love, but to the communities and teams to which they are committed. We are so thankful for the contributions to sports and to Jesus Christ through FCA, as we honor Dan Boyd, Heather Goodrich, Dave Krider, Dan Wooldridge and the late Ken Sparks and welcome them to the Hall of Champions Class of 2017.”
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Dan Boyd has served FCA as a board member in Colorado for more than 50 years. He is currently the State Advisory Board Chairman and also served for six years National Board of Trustees. Boyd first became involved in FCA as a student-athlete in the late 1950s. Although Boyd never played professionally, he was a decorated high school athlete. Along with a sterling reputation as an entrepreneur and business leader in the Denver community, he served as an officer in the Navy and has been the champion of the Denver Athletic Club Racquetball Tournament regularly.
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Known in FCA circles as “Momma G,” Heather Goodrich has been immersed in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for nearly her entire life, serving as a volunteer, Huddle Leader and board member.
Goodrich was influential through FCA at Rising Starr Middle School and Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. More than 300 students gather weekly at Rising Starr, and leadership has grown and is self-sustained at Starr’s Mill High. After Goodrich moved to Delaware, she became a powerhouse advocate for FCA in the community of Fenwick as well.
In these two regions, Goodrich has established Huddles, shared the Gospel, impacted the lives of coaches and athletes, raised funds, served on boards, assisted with FCA Fields of Faith events, recruited for FCA Camps and more. Goodrich was known to encourage graduating high school seniors to start FCA on their college campuses or in their communities.
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Now in his 56th year as sportswriter, Dave Krider pioneered prep sports’ national prominence and has a place in eight halls of fame for sports writing, penning articles for USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Max Preps. A 42-year FCA Huddle Coach in Indiana, Krider’s experience with the sports ministry began when he handled publicity for an FCA Camp at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, while serving as sports editor of the Herald-Argus in La Porte, Indiana, in the early 1970s. He went on to volunteer at FCA Camps in Central Michigan University and Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Krider quickly embraced FCA’s vision and began praying for his town to start a Huddle at La Porte High School (LPHS), which eventually launched in October 1975. Considering Krider was neither a coach nor teacher at the school, he was unsure whether he could commit to the group. Yet, his deep passion for Jesus, sports and kids uniquely combined to establish a ministry he’s led for the past 42 years.
Impacting thousands, the longevity of Krider’s ministry is eternal, and generations of La Porte student-athletes were forever influenced because of his dedication.
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Dan Wooldridge serves as a Roanoke Valley FCA Board Member in Virginia, and he and his wife, Nancy, were one of the three families to establish Roanoke Valley FCA in 1964. Wooldridge pioneered sending student-athletes to FCA Camps and Bible studies, and also established the Roanoke Valley Wide FCA Breakfast that united high schools throughout region.
A three-sport standout in college, Wooldridge played professional baseball, coached high school sports for seven years and went on to become a supervisor of football and basketball officials in several conferences, a scout for NFL officials and a consultant for ACC football. He was also chosen to be one of two referees from the United States to officiate the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In the 1970s, he became a key figure in the formation of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and was also named to Lynchburg College Sports Hall of Fame.
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Longtime Carson-Newman University football coach Ken Sparks served as an ambassador for Christ and FCA around the country. He spoke at countless FCA coaching clinics, banquets and rallies, presented the Gospel to his audiences and shared his faith with every player and team he coached.
Sparks, who passed away in March 2017, served as former president for the American Football Coaches Association and was nominated to the AFCA Hall of Fame. He was also a recipient of the FCA Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award and Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award.
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FCA’s Hall of Champions members serve to fulfill FCA’s vision, mission and values: to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes; to present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church; and through relationships that demonstrate steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word through integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence.
The Class of 2017 will be honored with a photo and biography at the newly redesigned Hall of Champions at FCA’s National Support Center in Kansas City, Missouri. A special glass plaque will be presented to honorees or members of their families later this year.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions was established in 1991. There are now 101 godly coaches and athletes plus board members and volunteers who have received this special tribute. They make up a group of FCA servant-leaders who have faithfully served Christ through the avenue of FCA. Their commitment to the Lord’s work has impacted millions over the years. They are a body of teammates in Christ who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to the support of FCA, nominated by staff and board members and elected by a selection committee.
Criteria for the Hall of Champions nominations include: a personal belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; a demonstrated commitment to participate in the ministry of FCA; a commitment to further FCA’s purpose; an involvement FCA ministry; a lengthy period of consistent service (minimum of 10 years); a personal involvement in the world of sport; not an FCA staff person (FCA’s Hall of Honor is for both past and current staff); and not a current member of FCA’s National Board of Trustees.
Click here to view a complete list of the FCA Hall of Champions inductees.
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