By Joey McWilliams
DURANT – The Southeast Oklahoma chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes held it annual Coaches’ Luncheon on Wednesday at the Choctaw Casino KOA.
More than 60 coaches and personnel from six schools were in attendance for the food and conversation. The afternoon was highlighted by a message from former coach Ronnie Tipps.
Southeast Area Representative John Capps spoke about the event, which is held at the beginning of the year as a reminder of what coaches’ jobs entail – more than just X’s and O’s, “It’s about making a difference in the lives of kids,” Capps said.
“It’s always successful when we get to minister to coaches. Coach Tipps reminded us how to we need to be balanced and what we need to be as coaches. It’s never a bad thing when you can remind coaches of that.”
Tipps is 40-year veteran of coaching in Oklahoma and Texas. He was the head coach of the football program at Ardmore from 1988-1995, winning state titles in 1990 and 1992.
The now-70-year-old speaker and Sunday School teacher said having the opportunity to speak to the group was a great honor and was humbling.
“The thing that it means to me, more than anything, is that when you retire, it’s good to have that opportunity to come back and share with those people that you’ve spent 40 years of your life with and that you care about and love,” Tipps said.
“The thing that I found out in preparation is that I don’t have to please anybody. These are things that God has laid on my heart and it’s an opportunity to share the experiences that I have gone through. And if it can help someone, that is being a servant for Christ.”
