FCA is honored to announce Trinity University’s head football coach Jerheme Urban as the 2024 Frosty Westering Coach of the Year Award.
Named after Forrest “Frosty” Westering, former Pacific Lutheran University football coach, College Football Hall of Fame inductee, and passionate spokesperson and ambassador for FCA, the Coach of the Year Award presented by FCA recognizes a football coach who exemplifies Christian principles and who is involved in FCA. The award is also based on the success and performance of the coach’s team that season.
“Fellowship of Christian Athletes is proud to honor such an outstanding coach who has impacted countless players over his successful career,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “We congratulate Jerheme Urban for not only his accomplishments but for the way he has positively impacted the lives of his players for God’s Kingdom.”
Jerheme Urban began his head coaching career at Trinity in 2014. Trinity competes in the Division 3 Southern Athletic Association (SAA). In 2021 the Tigers went undefeated in regular season play as they won the SAA and lost in the playoffs to the National Champion Mary Hardin Baylor that year. In 2022 Trinity recorded an 11-1 record while again winning the SAA finishing sixth in the nation and making it to the second round of the playoffs. In 2023 Trinity recorded a 10-2 record and made it to the D3 playoffs once again.
Jerheme Urban expressed his gratitude toward receiving this award: “What an incredible honor it is to be named the inaugural, Frosty Westering National Coach of the Year. This is a moment in time that I will not only cherish forever, but it is a moment in time that will continue to push me in my daily quest to share Christ’s love, grace and boldness within my home, team and community. I want to thank my incredible wife Emily for her unending encouragement and support, mentors such as Matt Hasselbeck, Brock Huard, Trent Dilfer, and Mike Clark for their love and guidance in my younger days in Seattle, and Bobby Kohler, who is not only a dear friend and mentor, but is someone who helped reach me through FCA when I was a college freshman in 1999, and has now been walking by my side for 25 years!”
Bobby Kohler, FCA Representative in San Antonio Texas, said, “Coach Urban demonstrates his Christian faith by both his words and his actions. He truly cares about his family and his coaches and their family along with his players. He has arranged the program’s schedule where the coaches can be at church on Sundays (in which the Urban family is) and where the coaches can be home at dinner with their families during the week. During the season he has made time to attend a coaches Bible Study led by an FCA staff person for his staff. On game day he schedules time for a pregame chapel which he attends and when on the road will lead himself. He cares for his players and they know it.
“Jerheme truly desires to coach the body, mind, and heart of his athletes,” continued Kohler. “He desires them to be well-rounded men when they leave the program. He has hired a player development coach to walk alongside him and help lead weekly character talks with both the whole team as well as the Leadership Council. Although he is very competitive, he knows how to rule his spirit on the sidelines during the game. He understands that ultimately, he represents the Lord Jesus in all he does knowing that his identity is ultimately not in his won-loss record but in who he is in Christ. He seeks to instill this in his players when possible.”
Coach Urban began his involvement with FCA as a football player at Trinity University. He played in the NFL from 2003-2011 and would come back in the offseason and speak at FCA Huddles, and still does. He has been the FCA Valero Alamo Bowl breakfast speaker and also supports FCA financially.
“I have known and been around Jerheme for 20+ years now,” said Kohler. “I have watched him grow in his faith and seen his desire and commitment to honor the Lord in his position as head coach of the Tigers and also with his family. He models Jesus to his coaching staff as well as his players as the recommendation letters will attest. He is well respected by all at Trinity University. In my 25 years of being on staff with FCA, I’ve not seen many with the kind of heart he demonstrates as a College Head Coach.”
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Photos courtesy of Trinity University Athletics and USA Football