High school basketball season is in full swing across the country. Young athletes are learning what it takes to win, while their coaches are trying to instill values in their players that will last far beyond the court. 

Now might be the perfect time to pick up and read a great book on coaching. Longtime head coach of the Wood County Christian boy’s basketball team Dan Ellis recently released Discipleship in Coaching: Creating Team Culture that Builds Christian Character. People in the coaching and discipleship worlds are reacting strongly to the book’s messages. It combines practical coaching advice with lessons on how to train up people in their work ethic and faith.

“The idea of writing a book crossed my mind when I was coaching, but I never found the time until I retired,” Ellis said.

Ellis’s daughter, Danelle Young, is a book designer and editor. A conversation between father and daughter led to the coach’s decision to finally sit down and write.

“I was talking to her one day about her work, and through our conversation, she encouraged me to start,” he said. “So I began.”

Discipleship in Coaching includes Bible passages, quotes from famous athletes, and other resources interwoven with stories from Ellis’s career as a Christian school coach. He shares how to pioneer a sports program, how to discover and implement a philosophy of coaching, and how to pray for mentees and players, among other great nuggets of practical wisdom. Along the way, Ellis thanks God for the way He provided for the school, the basketball program, and for Ellis himself. His stories and advice will benefit anyone in any leadership capacity, not just coaching. 

“You have to be intentional and it starts with prayer and a plan. The book encourages both,” Ellis said. “Your daily, personal relationship with the Lord is very important. I read in a devotional that if you have the Holy Scriptures in your hands and the Holy Spirit in your heart, you have everything you need to grow in your faith and be a positive influence on others.”

The book impacted those who have read it. Darren Stevens, a current public school teacher and former coach who helped Ellis and other coaches run the “Total Package” basketball camp, said the book helped him with his interaction with players and students.

“I learned from the book that our testimony for Christ should be first and foremost when dealing with our players and students,” said Stevens. “And that everything we do should be for the glory of Christ.”

Ellis served as the head coach of the Wildcats for 22 years. Over that time, his players will attest, he truly demonstrated a servant’s heart and followed through on the ideas he was instilling in those he taught and coached.

“He did a great job teaching the fundamentals of the game and knew how to use the mismatches in a game to give our team the advantage,” said Mitchell Morris, a 2016 graduate of WCCS and former player for Ellis. “It was also great having a strong Christian example as a head coach.”

Ellis knew how to impact his players in a positive way both on and off the court. In his over 20 years of experience, he also served WCCS by teaching Bible classes and overseeing other day-to-day activities on the school campus.

“No matter the ups or downs, he always made sure to set an example for us that displayed his Chrisitan faith,” Morris said.

When asked to distill his book into one or two sentences, Ellis said: “Use your opportunity as a Christian coach, teacher, or mentor to have a positive influence for Christ in the lives of others. We can build Christian character by developing relationships and influencing others as the Lord leads us.”