FCA is
proud to honor La Jolla Country Day School (LJCDS) baseball
coach, John Edman, with this year’s Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award.
FCA presents
the Kindall Award each year at the ABCA Convention to the college or high
school baseball coach who best exemplifies the Christian principles of
character, integrity, excellence, teamwork and service.
Noelle Blankenship, FCA San
Diego (La Jolla) Area Representative noted, “Coach
Edman is committed to his family, co-workers, student-athletes and church. He
demonstrates long faithfulness in the same direction over the years that I have
known him. He serves at church, leads weekend Bible Study for coaches, asks
good questions, actively listens, and offers to pray for his coworkers and
friends on a regular basis! He ALWAYS gives God glory, especially for his son's
recent World Series win. In the text I received, he immediately gave glory and
thanks to God. He is always learning and seeking to grow in the Lord.
“Coach Edman embodies the
spirit of Jerry Kindall, seeing success in his athletes both on and off the
field. He is a well-respected man of God who believes that his calling of Coach
can be used to impact lives for the kingdom. He will probably disagree that he
should receive the award, which is indicative of why he deserves this crown
title,” said Blankenship.
As La Jolla Country Day School’s baseball coach,
John Edman
has led his team to win over 370 games, one CIF Championship, five Coastal
League Champions, and currently has 14 players on college teams, with two in
the MLB. He is also the proud father and previous coach of his son Tommy Edman,
who won the 2024 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Beyond his astonishing coaching record, Coach Edman has embodied
Christian values throughout his personal and professional life. As an FCA
Sponsor at LJCDS for seven years and coaches Huddle leader,
those around Coach Edman know him to be the same person on the field as off the
field — by leading a Bible
study for LJCDS coaching staff on weekends and investing in their personal
lives. He serves those around him with the attitude of humility as demonstrated
by King David in the Old Testament. He gives up his chair for anyone who shows
up late to FCA — always looking for
ways to help elevate others. He shows teamwork by including his staff (and FCA
staff) in decisions about FCA and asking for input.
Brandon Nance, one of
Coach Edman’s players and student, said, “I could list so many positive
attributes, and stories about Coach Edman, but the one that meant the most to
me was in my sophomore year of 2017. My mom had just passed away from a long
battle with cancer and he was one of the first people to show up to her
celebration of life. I know for certain this was a weekend he had many other
plans and coaching responsibilities he could have been at, but instead, he
wanted to check and make sure I was doing ok. Coach Edman is a great leader,
and Christian who displays his faith in a positive way to everyone he
encounters, and I’m honored to have known him and had the experiences I’ve had
with him.”
Coach Edman believes that the main purpose of coaching is to
help young athletes develop character and leadership skills that will benefit
them in life. He is committed to coaching in a biblical way, which values the
athletes for who they are, not simply what they can provide. He coaches
athletes’ hearts, minds and bodies. In addition to coaching athletes, Coach
Edman leads a book study for the coaches on his staff, encouraging them to
develop a three-dimensional perspective of coaching. He creates space for
discussion and learning amongst his coaching staff, getting to know them
personally.
“I am incredibly honored to
receive the Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award. I aspire to coach the
way that prior winners have modeled, and it is such an honor to follow in their
footsteps. I am so grateful for the nomination by our local FCA,”
said John Edman.
"To me, we are here on
earth for two reasons: to refine our character and to share the love of Jesus
with others. Coaching is such an amazing opportunity to see both things happen.
My character is refined every day as I coach, and I hope that I will always
coach in a way that lifts up the young people on my teams with encouragement
and positivity and that I also shine a light on Jesus' love in some way. FCA does
a great job of encouraging us as coaches to coach with the right perspective
and provides such awesome resources to coaches and athletes to help us all grow
in our walk with Jesus. I am so grateful for the FCA folks
in San Diego who have walked alongside us for the last 15-20 years."
-FCA-