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A Journey with Sports & Spirituality

Our journey this week will be unique and special in many ways as we embark on a spiritual pilgrimage into sports and spirituality. Guiding us along the way are Mary Jane Fox and her guest, Stan Laing, Athletic Director at Northside Independent School District, the fourth largest school district in the state of Texas.

During this episode, you will:

  • Be inspired by a Sports Coach who incorporates his Christian Faith with those around him.
  • Hear how this Coach’s experience in the Holy Land caused him to choose a battle cry that includes the Jerusalem Cross.
  • Receive good tips on choosing things that matter most, especially those that relate to our daily lives.

Guest Information

Stan Laing is the Athletic Director at Northside ISD, the fourth-largest school district in the state of Texas. Stan serves right at 650 coaches as well as over 15,000 student-athletes that participate in athletics in the Northside district. He leads their annual Servant Leadership Summit for athletes as well as coaches. He has recently spoken at the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast of Champions and will be speaking later this week at the first Teen Leadership Conference at St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Boerne. He has completed 38 years of serving in public education:

• 17 years as a teacher and coach.
• 8 years as a high school campus principal
• 13 years as Executive Director of Athletics, Northside ISD, San Antonio, TX.

Because of the work of those around me, I am honored to have received:

• As a campus principal, our campus received multiple years as Newsweek Magazine's list of America's Top Performing High Schools.
• As athletic director, Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game Award from THSCA
• As athletic director, multiple Athletic Administrator of the Year awards from THSADA

As a coach, the greatest accomplishment is having continued relationships with former players with a handful going into the coaching profession.

"In my humble opinion, the most effective leaders that I have seen and aspire to be are servant leaders. The mindset of selflessly serving others in a grateful and humble manner. Those that do this well exhibit three key traits: Their actions are a reflection of their faith. Their attitude is a reflection of their hope. How they treat others is a reflection of their love."


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Jewel for the Journey

“Sports contribute to the love of life, teaches sacrifice, respect, and responsibility, leading to the full development of every human person.” – St. Pope. John Paul II


The Virtues of a Servant Leader

Where is Ibillin?

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001