Greenville, SC – The NCCAA is honored to announce Dr. Jim Poteet, Rob Thompson, and Kelly Wood into the NCCAA Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2025. 

 

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Dr. Jim Poteet’s career spans six decades of dedicated service within Christian higher education and athletics, primarily within the NCCAA. Now leading Kansas Christian College as Vice President of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Poteet began his coaching career in 1964 at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. Coaching at seven different Christian colleges over his illustrious career, Poteet was first introduced to the NCCAA in his first ever head coaching job at Biola College in 1968. After building Biola’s program, Poteet moved on to Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) where he earned two NCCAA National Championships in 1974 and 1977 and was named NCCAA Coach of the Year in both 1974 and 1975. As Poteet grew in his career, he also grew in his ways of service and leadership, serving as an NCCAA Region Chair, leading countless mission trips and church ministry programs, participating on multiple committees within small college basketball, as well as becoming a published author and mentor to many.

 

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Rob Thompson has played and/or coached baseball and softball since 1969. After an outstanding playing career at Maranatha Baptist College, Thompson began a coaching path that would eventually bring him back to the NCCAA and his alma mater of Maranatha Baptist University as the Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach in 2006. After a 21-year tenure with the Maranatha athletic staff, Thompson has transitioned to a role of Assistant Vice President for Admissions and Recruitment that began in the fall of 2024. During his time as Athletic Director, Thompson led a department that won 10 NCCAA National Championships. Despite the success, Thompson is most known for his service to the NCCAA. He served as a regional coordinator from 2012-2023 and just completed a nine-year commitment on the NCCAA Board of Directors where he served as the NCCAA President from 2020-2023. Thompson is greatly respected by his colleagues in the NCAA and NCCAA with many witnessing firsthand his heart for the Lord through intercollegiate athletics. 

 

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Kelly Wood recently completed 31 years working in the NCCAA, the longest tenure of any employee in the organization’s history. Wood began her work with the NCCAA back in Marion, Indiana in 1992, serving as Dr. Barry May’s office manager and assistant. In 1996, she and her family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where she continued to do part-time work for the NCCAA from home. In recognition of all her work, she was awarded the Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship Award in 1998. In October of 1999, Wood was rehired as the Director of Community Relations in a full-time capacity and shortly after her husband Dan Wood became the Executive Director of the NCCAA. Wood wore many hats for the NCCAA including event and Pro-Am management, employee training, handbook revisions, brochure design, etc. In every role that Wood completed with the NCCAA, she has done it with the focal point being a selfless servant of the Lord. Wood has been an integral part of growing the NCCAA to where it is today consistently serving the Lord and His mission during her time with the organization. Although Wood is retired now, she still finds ways to serve and care for the NCCAA staff in Greenville, South Carolina. 

 

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The three inductees will officially be honored at the Hall of Fame Luncheon on Thursday, May 29, 2025 during the NCCAA Annual Convention being held in Greenville, South Carolina.
 
The purpose of the Hall of Fame Award is to recognize individuals who have given outstanding leadership and/or service to the NCCAA. Individuals should have high moral character and Christian integrity; presently be making a positive contribution by serving the Lord and society; and maintain a continued interest in Christian higher education and intercollegiate athletics.