Sports Spectrum Podcast

Vad Lee is the Director of Campus Ministry with Young Life at the University of Maryland. The former James Madison All-American QB joins us to talk about his desire to be a pastor and a football player, the lessons learned through adversity and how being injured opened a door from God for him to become a chaplain.  You can order Vad's books "Purpose over Position" and "That's my Friend" here.  --- For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website, SportsSpectrum.com Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Rhett Lashlee leads the offense for the Miami Hurricanes. In 2020, the Hurricanes finished 8-3 and ranked in the top-25 and played in the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl. His previous coaching stops include Samford University, Arkansas State, Auburn, UCONN and SMU.  In high school, Lashlee was a standout quarterback who won two state championships and broke many Arkansas high school passing records including passing yards, TD passes.  Coach Lashlee shares on the podcast today how he trusts in God with his coaching moves, wins the first 5 minutes at home each day and how his faith helped him to forgive his father for leaving his family when he was 13.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Rhett Lashlee, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Mark Richt - Former College Football Coach - Jamey Chadwell - Coastal Carolina Head Football Coach  For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website, SportsSpectrum.com Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Brooke Wycoff has been a big part of the Florida State women's basketball program for over two decades. She is currently the Associate Head Coach for the Seminoles and coming off a season where she served as the Interim Head Cocah while regular head coach Sue Semrau took a leave of absence to care for her mother.  Brooke is an FSU All-American who played her college hoops from 1997-2001. She began coaching with the Seminoles in 2011 after finishing a decade-long career as a professional player in the WNBA and overseas in Spain.  In 2014, Brooke co-founded an organization called Moms in Coaching, a support group for mothers who coach basketball. Today on the podcast, we talk to Brooke about balancing motherhood and coaching, seizing the 2020-21 opportunity of being an interim head coach, how her faith in Christ guides her and why her purpose in coaching is bigger than basketball.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Duke Preston is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Director of Player Engagement. He joined Tampa prior to the 2015 season and his role focuses on the personal and professional growth of players through guidance and support. He also serves as the team chaplain of the team.  Prior to working with Tampa, Preston was with the University of Notre Dame in a variety of roles in including player and spiritual development. The former NFL offensive lineman played five seasons with the Bills, Packers and Cowboys and retired in 2010 at the age of 28. He earned his Master's Degree in Christian Education from the Dallas Theological Seminary.  On today's podcast, Duke Preston shares about his role with the Buccaneers, the importance of Christ in his life, the journey of 2020 and winning a Super Bowl, and what discipleship looked like this season.  --- If you enjoyed this conversation with Duke, we know you'll love these podcasts as well: - Clyde Christensen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Coach - Casey Phillips, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Reporter For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website, SportsSpectrum.com Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

On this Mother's Day weekend, former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson shares on the impact his mother made in his life and how he's supported his wife Kirsten in their journey as parents of seven kids.  --- If you enjoyed this conversation with Benjamin, we know you'll love these podcasts as well: - Benjamin Watson, Eric Boles and Jon Kitna on Reconciliation - Emmanuel Acho – Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Chris Mortensen is an award-winning journalist and one of the most respected and accomplished reporters covering the National Football League today. A senior NFL Insider, Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991. He regularly appears on “NFL Live,” “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “Monday Night Countdown,” “SportsCenter” and other programs. Mortensen also contributes to ESPN’s annual Super Bowl week and NFL Draft coverage, and his work regularly appears on ESPN.com. Honored by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) in 2016 with the prestigious Dick McCann Award for his long and distinguished contribution to pro football, Mortensen has covered every Super Bowl since 1985 with the exception of Super Bowl 50, when he was forced to take a leave of absence after being diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, Mortensen broke one of the biggest news stories of the NFL offseason when his report in March 2016 confirmed that future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning would retire after 18 NFL seasons. Today on the podcast, Jade McCarthy talks with Mort about covering the 2021 NFL Draft and shares incredible stories from those he's covered in the NFL the past 30 years who have lived lives of faith in Jesus. You'll hear Mort's recollections in covering people like Joe Gibbs, Reggie White, Deion Sanders, Tony Dungy, Jim Kelly and others.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Chris Mortensen, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Chris Mortensen's journey of faith from 2019 - Sam Ponder, ESPN NFL Host Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Bradley Pinion is a Super Bowl champion and the punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Bradley about how his life has changed since winning a Super Bowl, the coolest thing he experienced after winning the big game and why God guided him to be a part of the great work Convoy of Hope is doing. --- Learn more about Convoy of Hope by going to ConvoyNation.com. --- Listen to Bradley's previous conversation where he shares his incredible story of faith on Sports Spectrum here. 

A.J. Ellis is a former MLB catcher with the Dodgers, Phillies, Marlins and Padres. He was selected in the 18th round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft by Los Angeles. He played his college baseball at Austin Peay, where he became the all-time leader in hits.  Ellis made his MLB debut on September 15, 2008 with the Dodgers and played 9 seasons in LA before being traded to the Phillies. He would play two more seasons with the Marlins (2017) and Padres (2018), before retiring and joining San Diego's front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager Today on the podcast, A.J. Ellis shares amazing stories from his time as an MLB catcher working with players like Clayton Kershaw and Greg Maddux and playing for managers Joe Torre and Don Mattingly. Ellis also discusses what it was like to be on the cover of Sports Spectrum's 2015 Summer Magazine.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - James McCann, Mets Catcher - Erik Kratz, Former MLB Catcher For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website SportsSpectrum.com 

Shane Williamson is the President and CEO for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A native of Loris, S.C., Williamson became a Christ follower while attending an FCA Camp in Black Mountain, N.C., in 1986. Following that life-changing experience, his high school head football coach, Tim Renfrow, discipled him and became his encourager, mentor and role model. This enduring impact of a coach influenced Williamson to make his own commitment to the power of transformational coaching in the world of sports. Williamson attended Wofford College (S.C.) earning a B.S. in Biology while playing football for coach Mike Ayers. He remained active in the FCA Huddle throughout his years including serving as an officer. He then attended Converse College (S.C.) earning a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. Bringing understanding and experience as a coach and athlete, Williamson joined the FCA movement as a staff member in 2002 as the Upstate South Carolina Director. He then became the Multi-Area Director for Metro Atlanta FCA from 2005-2011. His roles in FCA continued to expand as he went on to serve as the Vice President of Field Ministry for the Carolinas from 2012-2014, and followed by leading all of FCA’s U.S. Field Ministry as the Executive Director from 2014-2016. Today on the podcast, we talk to Shane about his journey to Christ, the role FCA has played in his life since he was a kid, the keys to being a great leader, and why sports is such a great space to share the Gospel. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Shane, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Sarah Roberts - FCA Area Director - Kent Chevalier, Steelers Chaplain For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website SportsSpectrum.com.

The legendary Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels shares his story of baseball, Jesus and serving others on today's episode.  This interview originally aired on Sports Spectrum's Get in the Game Podcast with Scott Linebrink. You can sign up and listen to the podcast here. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Albert, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager - Adam Wainwright and Francis Chan