The NCCAA mourns the loss of long-time Board of Directors member and Pro-Am founder, Mr. John Wheeler. John passed away and into the arms of his Savior on Thursday, June 26 while in hospice care at the age of 93. His legacy within so many areas of life centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our collective responsibility to share that. The legacy of the family he built and leaves behind is unparalleled with every generation being known as Christ-followers and people of impact.
John’s NCCAA legacy started from his own days as a student-athlete who saw the benefit of out-of-the-classroom platforms where a Christian coach/leader could have great impact on the next generation. He joined the NCCAA Board of Directors in 1983 as the first person not attached to a member school’s athletic program. He was invited to the position for his business acumen and ingenuity and those two traits were present until his departure from the Board in 2018. He was the first Board Counselor designee starting in 2008 as his time and presence became optional, but his counsel remained necessary. Of note, his son, David Wheeler, joined the Board of Directors in 2020, filling John’s seat on the Finance Committee.
John and his wife, Jody, launched the NCCAA Pro-Am event from “the trunk of the car and a small cardboard box.” They literally managed the event for the first nine years, finally requesting that a committee be developed to ensure the future of the event that had grown to a $15,000 net fundraiser and a successful friend-raiser for the NCCAA. John stated that he did need or want to serve on the committee and that position lasted 24 days, as he was asked, and accepted, a role in the new leadership model. Fast forward to the most recent event’s conclusion, and the NCCAA has seen over $2 million in net proceeds over the past 38 years from the Pro-Am. Ironically, John missed his first Pro-Am ever as his health started to deteriorate just before the March 2025 event.
While his presence will be sorely missed at NCCAA meetings, Track & Field National Championships where he loved to congratulate each event winner, and most certainly the Pro-Am, his impact and legacy will live on until the day Christ returns. A life well-given in service to the King best sums up our friend, mentor, leader, and partner, John Wheeler. Our prayers have been and will be lifted for the family as earthly mourning and heartache is trumped so mightily in knowing John is healed and home with Jesus Christ.
In an effort to honor John Wheeler’s service and impact, the NCCAA has created a memorial in memory of John Wheeler for those wishing to honor John’s life of impact within the NCCAA and beyond. John’s love for sports, especially football and track & field, was only matched by his love and acumen in creating golf fundraisers, like the NCCAA Pro-Am in 1988. The Wheeler Award is still presented annually to the male and female NCCAA Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year while the Wheeler Ministry Scholarship is annually presented to the institution represented by the winning foursome of the College Scholarship event at the NCCAA Pro-Am. John’s legacy and impact will live on through these annual awards and through the funds contributed in his honor. Via this new fund, the goal is that all of those impacted by John’s gift of time, talent, and treasure, will ensure his legacy and impact grows in reach and scope. Interested individuals can click on this link, https://secure.qgiv.com/for/nccaa/, or go to www.thenccaa.org and click on the “Donors tab,” and then on “Give Now” in the drop-down menu. Donors will be able to select the John Wheeler Memorial as their gift designation.