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."

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