Our team
One of the biggest highlights to 2020 has been the way our local AIA team has grown. For the past few years I have been actively recruiting others to come join the mission of helping make athletic disciples that make athletic disciples. There were times where I thought the team would never grow and we would never have anyone else join. We were the epitome of Jesus’ words, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few...” (Matthew 9:37) we have had a plethora of athletes and coaches wanting to connect but just didn’t have enough staff, volunteers and leaders to engage the CSU athletic department. So we prayed, and prayed and recruited, and then we prayed some more... and you know what? The Lord answered the prayer.
Our team has grown in the last year with 3 Full time staff reporting, 2 CSU coaches functioning as volunteer staff and the spouse of one of our new staff as volunteer staff. Here’s a bit about each of our staff:
•David and Maddy Wacker – David and Maddy met at UTC here at CSU a few years ago. David was the Forward for Boise State Basketball (We made him burn all his BSU gear) and Maddy was an All-American Beach Volleyball player at Tulane. David is one of the most passionate and joyful humans I know. The CSU basketball team has already taken a liking to him and he is thriving in his role. Maddy works at Target and volunteers as a leader for our CSU Volleyball team Discipleship Group.
•Nolan and Amber Okeefe – Nolan and Amber are CSU Alumni who met their freshman year in Corbett Hall at CSU. They both became followers of Jesus in college and Nolan was an ROTC Air Force Cadet. They have 2 beautiful children. Nolan is helping lead 2 different discipleship groups and Amber hosts and leads the CSU Women’s Soccer Discipleship Group at their home.
•Elijah and Dri Blackman – WE LOVE THIS COUPLE. Elijah is a football strength coach at CSU and Reza has been discipling him for over a year now. Dri was a part of Allyson’s Coach’s Bible study at UNC in years past and is a former All American Volleyball player and current assistant volleyball coach at CSU. Elijah is helping Reza with a CSU Football coach Bible Study and Dri works alongside Maddy in leading the Women’s Volleyball team Discipleship Group.