Hall of Fame
Gary Bailey has worked diligently to build and maintain an exemplary culture in the athletic department at Grace Christian University. The athletic director and coach has carefully and intentionally mentored Grace Christian’s coaches and student-athletes, as well as others from NCCAA member institutions. Gary is willing to lose games to preserve Grace Christian’s culture and is truly dedicated to training student-athletes of integrity for life after college.
While at the helm of the men’s basketball program for 16 years, Gary has enjoyed great success. He has won 13 NCCAA Regional Championships, and his teams have participated in 15 NCCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships, winning six national titles (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019). During the stretch of four straight titles, Gary won 69 consecutive games against NCCAA opponents. Gary is a three-time NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year and a two-time NCCAA National Coach of the Year.
Under Gary’s leadership, Grace Christian’s student-athletes have flourished, earning many accolades in the NCCAA. His men’s basketball teams have had 34 Scholar-Athletes, 24 All-Americans, and 4 Pete Maravich Award recipients. Four student-athletes of other sports have also been named character award recipients in the NCCAA that include the Game Plan 4 Life Award, Wheeler Award, Ray Bullock Award, and Kyle Rote, Jr. Award. Outside of men’s basketball, Grace Christian’s teams have participated in 24 NCCAA National Championships, including one championship title in Division II Women’s Soccer.
Gary is committed to team service days, including an annual Christmas party visit to Pineview Homes, a home for abused, neglected, and delinquent boys. He personally has served as a camp counselor at Round Lake Basketball Camp. He has also served the NCCAA as a Men’s Basketball Regional Sport Chair from 2008-2016, the National Sport Vice-Chair in 2017, and was a member of the Michigan Golf Tour Committee from 2017-2019. Gary has been an ambassador for the NCCAA and is highly respected by his student-athletes, staff, and competitors.
Associate Head Coach for Men’s Basketball Dan George stated, “When I recruited Gary as a high school senior to come play college basketball for me, I had no idea our lives would still be linked so closely over 40 years later. What I have admired most about Gary is his devotion to doing the right thing, when others would find it easy to sacrifice the culture for a ring.”
“I am proud to say that our conversations are always forward thinking and geared toward growing the impact of the lives of the men and women who study at Grace and participate in our athletic teams,” said Dr. Ken Kemper. “It is a tribute to Gary as his alumni often return to see him and desire to stay connected with him over the many years he has coached here. This is an indication of his influence in their lives beyond the game and skills.”
Assistant Athletic Director and former men’s basketball player Cory Jamieson said, “Coach is simply committed to doing anything in his power to represent Grace, the NCCAA, and Jesus Christ the right way. He holds all of our coaches to high standards, and we’ve seen our athletic programs rise up in excellence on and off the playing surface since he took the helm.”
The NCCAA is honored to induct Gary Bailey into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021.