NCCAA Celebrates 2025 Award Recipients Honored at Convention Hall of Fame Luncheon 5/28/2025 12:00:00 AM Greenville, SC - The NCCAA inducted three new members to the Hall of Fame in Jim Poteet, Rob Thompson, and Kelly Wood at the Hall of Fame Luncheon during the Annual Convention. Also honored were recipients of the 2025 Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award, Paul & Carolyn Berry Award, Meritorious Service Award, #KingChasing Institution of the Year, and the Presidential Award. Hall of Fame GP4L Character Award: Female Student-Athlete | Male Student-Athlete Paul & Carolyn Men's Staff Award | Paul & Carolyn Berry Women's Staff Award Meritorious Service Award #KingChasing Institution of the Year Presidential Award 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Poteet, Kansas Christian College Dr. Jim Poteet has been impacting small college Christian higher education for over six decades at a variety of NCCAA Institutions. Poteet’s dedication to sharing the love of Christ through the sport of men’s basketball still runs strong today at his seventh institution Kansas Christian College, where he currently serves as the Vice President of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. From a young age Poteet has had a passion for education and athletics, spending 1959-1971 to earn three degrees. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Pasadena College in 1963, a master’s degree in physical education and athletic administration from California State University in 1966, and a doctorate in athletic administration from the University of Southern California in 1971. As his career grew, Poteet never lost his desire to continue learning while teaching, going back to earn a second doctorate in Applied Educational Studies/Sports Management from Oklahoma State University in 1999. Poteet’s introduction to the NCCAA came immediately after graduating with his master’s, earning his first men’s basketball head coaching job at Biola College (now Biola University) in 1968. After building Biola’s program from the ground up, Poteet moved on to another NCCAA institution in Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) where he earned two NCCAA National Championships in 1974 and 1977 and was named NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 1974 and 1975. As Poteet’s success in the NCCAA grew, so did the leadership responsibilities he took on, serving as an NCCAA Region Chair, leading countless mission trips with NCCAA student-athletes, and representing the NCCAA on a multitude of small college basketball committees. After eight years of incredible success at Southern Nazarene University, Poteet took his love for basketball into the mission field where he was a coach for Athletes in Action from 1979-1980. Poteet then shifted his focus more toward athletic administration over the next 25 years of his career, still serving as an assistant men’s basketball coach throughout his journey. With no plans to retire, Poteet returned to his NCCAA roots in 2017 where he still serves today at Kansas Christian College. Throughout Poteet’s journey, discipling all nations has been the desire of his heart over the last six decades. Former colleague Dr. Reggies Wenyika stated, “[Poteet’s] work in sports evangelism and as an ambassador for Christ has taken him across five continents. His deep moral character and commitment to his faith are demonstrated on and off the court. Dr. Poteet and his wife, Peggy, received the Church of the Nazarene’s Distinguished Service Award in 2013, the highest honor for laypeople in the denomination, which speaks volumes about his moral standing and devotion to the Lord.” Dr. Ronn Johnson, a former player and assistant coach of Poteet’s added, “The scale of success in my personal and professional life directly stems from the Christ-inspired motivation promulgated by Dr. Poteet. Through Christ, Dr. Poteet has provided life-altering solutions for countless people worldwide. Christ relies on us to shed His light in dark places, an objective consistent with ‘Coach.’” Poteet’s dedication to teaching and discipleship has grown into a passion for writing late in his life, authoring two books titled “The Big Green Machine” and “Nobel Experiment.” Poteet is currently writing his third book, titled “FastBreak – From Long Pants to the Big Dance.” The NCCAA is honored to induct Dr. Jim Poteet into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. [Back to top] 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Rob Thompson, Maranatha Baptist University Rob Thompson has faithfully served his alma mater of Maranatha Baptist University for over two decades in a multitude of roles. In 1984, Thompson embarked on a journey in ministry and coaching after graduating from then Maranatha Baptist Bible College with a degree in pastoral theology. Twenty years after graduating, the Lord would bring Thompson back to where he began his journey to continue the call of impacting the next generation for Christ in the same place he was so deeply impacted. Thompson was first hired at Maranatha Baptist in 2003 as the Sports Information Director and Athletic Events Manager after roughly 20 years in coaching and athletic administration work throughout the Midwest. In 2004, Thompson got back into coaching as an assistant baseball coach from 2004-2006. After a few years in these roles, Thompson was hired as the Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach in 2006. Recently Thompson has retired from the role of athletic administration and coaching, but he has not stopped serving, as he is now the Assistant Vice President for Admissions and Recruitment at Maranatha, a role he began in the fall of 2024. Over his 21-year tenure 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 and Maranatha community. Thompson served as an NCCAA Regional Coordinator from 2012-2023 and just recently completed a nine-year commitment on the NCCAA Board of Directors where he served as the NCCAA President from 2020-2023. “Rob serves with a peace and contentment that many don’t possess,” stated current Maranatha Baptist University Athletic Director Paul Brown. “He serves his community, he promotes student-athletes, and he does whatever it takes to help grow the NCCAA because he knows what it stands for.” Thompson’s desire to serve young people largely is contributed to his own faith journey, where he was led to the Lord as a teenager in 1975 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa through the influence of his youth pastor. Thompson’s service to the Kingdom far outstretches his work with the NCCAA. He and his wife April have been involved in the ministry of Calvary Baptist Church since they married in 1984. Thompson has served on the board, taught discipleship classes, and ushered during his time at the church. Chris Lahm, Athletic Director & Men’s Basketball Coach at Ozark Christian College and NCCAA Administration Committee member, stated, “I have been challenged by how Rob held true to his convictions and never compromised in his effort to be a successful coach or Athletic Director. I appreciate how he worked diligently to earn the respect of the athletes he encountered and challenged them to be men and women of God.” Current NCCAA President Chad Briscoe added, “I have witnessed firsthand Rob’s heart for the Lord through intercollegiate athletics and a servant heart focus for his athletic staff regarding academics, athletics, and service opportunities. His sincere commitment to always working with excellence has been a tremendous asset to MBU, the NCAA, and NCCAA. He has a tremendous passion for higher education and is dedicated to assisting all those around him at Maranatha Baptist University.” Thompson is a model of consistency, and despite a transition from the world of athletics his passion remains the same to serve the next generation with a heart for Christ. The NCCAA is honored to induct Rob Thompson into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. [Back to top] 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Kelly Wood, The NCCAA Kelly Wood is often described as the face of the NCCAA, recently concluding the longest tenure of any employee in the organization’s history at 31 years. Wood began her work with the NCCAA in 1992, serving as Dr. Barry May’s office manager and assistant in Marion, Indiana. From there, she began a journey that wherever she moved, she brought the NCCAA with her. Wood and her family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where she continued to do part-time work for the NCCAA from her home before being rehired in a full-time role as the Director of Community Relations in 1999, shortly thereafter her husband and current Executive Director Dan Wood was hired and the office moved to Greenville, South Carolina. Wood has worn several hats over her 31 years at the NCCAA including: event management, office administrator, volunteer coordinator, handbook revision, brochure design, website management, Pro-Am coordinator, to name a few. In all those roles, the thing that remained consistent is the smile on her face and her ability to welcome others into the NCCAA. It did not take long for those around her to recognize Wood’s talents, as she earned the Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship Award in 1998 in recognition of all her work. At the end of June 2023, Wood officially retired from her role with the NCCAA, but that has not stopped her from being involved when called upon, most importantly as a prayer warrior within the NCCAA Prayer Network. “Kelly is one of those special people in the world for whom I truly believe there is a crown of reward with the words ‘selfless servant’ engraved across the front,” said Ignite International President & Founder and NCCAA National Championship Chaplain, Judy Fox. “Kelly doesn’t seek credit, though she would be worthy of a ton of it. Having known Kelly personally since 1994, I have always appreciated that Kelly tackles the work with excellence, while making every person feel that their part in the process is of highest value.” University of Northwestern Director of Athletics Dr. Matt Hill added, “Kelly served with a humble heart to the NCCAA membership in various capacities over her career – and did so with a joy in her heart. I had countless interactions with Kelly serving alongside her at Conventions, National Championships, Pro-Ams, and committee meetings. Each time I was impressed by how patient she was, how friendly she was, and how prepared she was.” “Kelly has helped bond the NCCAA as a family,” said Paul and Carolyn Berry who have served in various roles with the NCCAA over the past three decades. “Everything that she has done with the NCCAA has been done with a focal point of serving the Lord and His mission. She has caused members to love and support each other, even before knowing each other. We can’t think of anyone who has worked so tirelessly behind the scenes and never wanted to take credit for it but totally is worthy of the Hall of Fame honor.” The NCCAA is honored to induct Kelly Wood into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. [Back to top] Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award The purpose of this award is to recognize NCCAA student-athletes and athletics staff who epitomize the Christian character qualities of LOVE, INTEGRITY, FAITH, and EXCELLENCE. This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Katelyn Crosby of Randall University. Katelyn Crosby improved each season from her middle blocker position at Randall, earning NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball First Team All-American and All-Tournament Team honors in 2023. Over the last two seasons, Crosby saw herself ranked in the top 10 in the NCCAA for hitting percentage, aces, points, and blocking. In 2024, Crosby highlighted her strong play with a hitting percentage above .300. Early in her career, Crosby earned a multitude of honors as well, being named Randall’s Newcomer of the Year in 2021-22 and the school’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2022-23. Looking back on all the honors, Crosby has seen how God has molded her career at Randall after almost never attending the school. Coming from one of the largest public high schools in the state of Idaho, Crosby was seeking a closer relationship with God going into her college experience. Not knowing how to find that, she googled “top ten Christian volleyball colleges,” and Randall was ranked fifth. Crosby was then intrigued by the thought of “who names a college Randall.” After much research, Crosby knew that God was calling her to continue her education and volleyball career at the school. Since arriving on campus, Crosby has grown in her faith which has resulted in her serving in a variety of ways. Crosby was a Residential Assistant at Randall and serves in her church teaching kids programs, working nursery, helping with the youth group weekly, and doing photography at church events. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA as a psychology and ministry student and leads by example daily in all her responsibilities. “Katelyn came to us on a chance visit after visiting another school in Texas,” stated Randall Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Mike Freeman. “Since she has been at Randall, several professors and administrators know Katelyn as someone willing to help in any way she can. She is the first to volunteer to pray before and after matches as well as team meals. Katelyn loves Jesus as much as anyone I’ve ever met. She has a very bright future ahead of her because of the focus she already has at such a young age.” [Back to top] This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Male Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Clayton Winter of Asbury University. A native of Wilmore, Kentucky, Winter averaged 10.4 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game in his career. Winter was a stalwart for Asbury on the defensive end, recording 61 steals and 39 blocks, and dished out 166 assists. The Graduate Student started in at least 20 games in each season and set the school record for most rebounds in a game on December 16, 2023, with a 32-rebound game against Crowley’s Ridge College. Winter was the 2023-24 NCCAA Division I Mideast Co-Regional Player of the Year and is just the third Asbury men’s basketball player in program history to score 1,000 points and haul in 1,000 boards in a career. In the classroom, Winter graduated with a 4.0 GPA while majoring in health and physical education. An NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, Winter had the unique honor of also being a full-time teacher at Wilmore Elementary School while being a force at center for the Eagles in his final year at Asbury. Winter is also a member of Wilmore United Free Methodist Church, where he teaches Sunday School, helps with Vacation Bible School, and helps mow the grounds. “Clayton is a major reason the community of Wilmore comes to support the men’s basketball team,” says Asbury University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Will Shouse. “He is a physical presence wherever he goes. But most importantly, his ability to handle the life of a husband, student, teacher, and basketball player at a high level is an example of his leadership. He uses all these things to glorify God and is called to do his best at each role.” [Back to top] This year’s Paul & Carolyn Berry Award recipient is Danae Widbin from the University of Northwestern. Danae Widbin has been on staff at the University of Northwestern for 13 years, spending the last five years as Assistant Athletic Director for Business and Student Services. Widbin oversees the Eagle Success Program, an academic support program for students to UNW, pouring into them by helping new students succeed academically, physically, and spiritually. She also helps make weekly meals for the Eagles baseball team, has driven teams to and from the airport for road games, and serves in her local church. Her love for the student athletes at the University of Northwestern is why she loves what she does, and she looks to succeed at every task, always looking for ways to improve the UNW athletic department and help her colleagues grow in their faith. Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director Jess Poppen said, “While Danae does not coach any teams at Northwestern, she still exemplifies excellence in her work. She could best be described as the utility player in UNW Athletics, if that utility player was also an All-Star. From making graphics in a pinch, to coordinating travel arrangements for each team, to serving as the advisor for our cheer and dance clubs, to even being forced into supervising weight room and intramural staff this year after two unexpected staff departures, Danae takes great pride in her work and knocks it out of the park every time. She is as valuable of an asset as this department has.” Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Beth Wilmuth added, “Danae is someone whose faith if evident in how she lives her daily life. She daily submits to His leading and seeks to grow in her relationship with the Lord and her influence on others. She is someone who exemplifies our department's core value of ‘place Christ first.’” [Back to top] (Matt Hill accepts on Aune's behalf) This year’s Paul & Carolyn Berry Award recipient is Billy Aune from the University of Northwestern. Billy Aune has been at the University of Northwestern for 36 years and is currently the Head Men’s & Women’s Golf Coach, Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach, and the Athletics Equipment Manager for the Eagles. In his time in St. Paul, Aune has won eleven UMAC Coach of the Year Awards and several NCCAA North Central Regional Golf Coach of the Year honors, as well as being on staff for a pair of NCCAA DI Men’s Basketball National Championships. Away from the court and course, Aune leads his teams to serve in several inner-city Minneapolis ministries, such as packing bags for Feed My Starving Children and holds weekly Bible studies for his teams. Aune’s integrity has also shown through in his coaching career, as he holds both himself and his basketball and golf student-athletes to a high standard in their play and in the classroom. University of Northwestern Associate Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tim Grosz said, “Coach Aune is a strong heartbeat on our team, and whether through devotionals, one-on-one encounters with our team members, on the court, or while on the sidelines, he has demonstrated the truth of our Worship-Witness-Win theme in countless different ways. He loves golf and basketball, he loves his fellow coaches and our players, but he loves the Lord more, and that comes through clearly.” Director of Athletics Matt Hill added “Billy will never compromise in order to get ahead, and teaches his team that God expects us to do what is right, not just what is okay. I witnessed him disqualify one of his players because of a lack of Integrity on the golf course. I appreciate that a coach has that demonstrates integrity even when winning is on the line.” [Back to top] Meritorious Service Award Zack Barron, Faith Baptist Bible College | Division II Women's Soccer National Chair, 2021-2025 Jeremy Butler, Ozark Christian College | Division II Cross Country National Chair, 2022-2025 Chelsea Jones, Carolina University | Division I South Regional Coordinator, 2019-2024 Lauren Sanders, Manhattan Christian College | Division II Women's Volleyball National Chair, 2022-2025 [Back to top] #KingChasing Program The #KingChasing program uses the four values of the Game Plan 4 LIFE - Love, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence - to enhance the purpose of collegiate athletics to be more than winning championships. The mission of the #KingChasing program is to keep Christ at the center of the student-athlete experience. An institution shall be named an NCCAA #KingChasing Institution by earning 70 points. The top point earning institutions shall be finalists for the NCCAA #KingChasing Institution of the Year. #KingChasing Institution Finalists #KingChasing Institution of the Year Finalist - Bob Jones University #KingChasing Institution of the Year Finalist - Houghton University #KingChasing Institution of the Year - University of Northwestern #KingChasing Institutions Arlington Baptist University Asbury University Bob Jones University College of the Ozarks Grace Christian University Grace College Houghton University Judson University Kentucky Christian University Manhattan Christian College Oak Hills Christian College Redeemer University University of Northwestern [Back to top] Presidential Award The NCCAA is pleased to provide an annual All-Sports Award to be presented to one Division I and one Division II member institution. Points are earned based upon a team's finish in an NCCAA National Championship. Division I Recipient - Bethel University Division II Recipient - Bob Jones University [Back to top]