By Steve Steele
Jerry Buettner has coached different age groups and sports off and on for over 30 years, most recently at Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Football, however, has been his favorite. Playing prep football at Lincoln Pius X in Nebraska before playing a year under the legendary Tom Osborne at the University of Nebraska, he grew up fusing faith and football.
With a work history mostly in the financial sector between the banking industry and the diocesan Chancery finance office, a calling to open his own food truck came. The truck is affectionately named O-Line Fusion BBQ and branded with Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.”
This verse has the heart of a true offensive lineman, a position not known for glory or statistics but rather the well-being of their teammates; it was a natural fit to his new endeavor. That new endeavor also sparked some of his athletes to discuss the discernment process with him and learn more in depth about what it means to listen for God’s will in our lives.
Coach as servant
Jerry’s view of the role of a coach was that of a surrogate dad to the athletes, because every player’s parents trust the coach to mold their child, helping them grow and develop into the athlete and person they need to become. Stating his own goal as a parent of helping his own children discover and stay on their own path to heaven, he sees his role as a coach similarly, although not always as direct as with his own children. Simply loving and ensuring they know they are loved is the coach’s primary objective as many kids today need that.
Being a faithful example and working to equip athletes with the tools to be courageous is another primary responsibility of a coach. There are many Scripture passages that encourage us to be strong and courageous. One verse is John 16:33: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” Jerry realizes that building that courage needs to be intentional from coaches and requires a mindset of servant leadership.
The Catholic faith teaches us to serve others, and to work together to do so. Jerry sees a great parallel between team sports and Jesus’ own team with his disciples.
“Just as Jesus coached his disciples in how to serve people and make a difference, so can coaches to their own teams,” Jerry said. “Jesus modeled humility and sacrifice, while also rebuking and challenging his disciples in ways that made them better people. Jesus did all these things while asking his own team to fish for people and make more disciples.
“In many ways, coaches are called to serve their players as Jesus served his disciples,” he continued. “[We’re] called to serve and sacrifice for them, act in their best interests, and help them work together to achieve something bigger than themselves. Servant leader coaches are called to be missionary disciples through the lens of sports.”
Coach as confessor
With the state of professional sports being more individualized and monetized, it is critical to demonstrate servant leadership early. By showing kids that, while it’s okay to feel good for yourself, it’s even better when you help other people find success. Kids can work to become the best disciples they can be. Without that mindset, athletes can fall into bad habits, much in the same way we fall into sin.
Some of the harder parts of coaching, like parenting, is the need for correction and redirection, much like Jesus rebuked his disciples when they needed correction. Coaches need to have the same approach with those they coach.
Admitting to having a loud, yeller-style voice, Jerry said he can come down hard on his players at times. He is also the first person to put his arm around the players and cheer them on. When Jerry gets after his players, he ensures they know it’s because they can be and are better than they acted. No matter what the mistake, he ensures his players know he loves them and cares for them far more than the playing or practice field.
Jerry hopes his players receive feedback well after a tough moment. He tells them they are bigger than their mistakes. “Just as we can be in leaving the confessional, we leave with a blank slate and full of hope that we can and will be better going forward,” he said.
His role as a coach is to have high standards for players, hold them accountable and ensure they always have hope in knowing that someone sees the great future they could have. In the moments where that can be challenging for coaches, Jerry remembers that all kids are children of God, who made them that way. It is up to the coach to find the best way to work with each person and to help them get to where God needs them to be.
Planting seeds
Jerry cites Pope Francis’ philosophy in terms of working with players who do not share his Catholic faith, or without any faith at all. “Pope Francis’ belief that unconditional love and service should supersede strict doctrine-based recruitment is one that I continue to integrate into my coaching,” Jerry said. “By living on fire for God and seeking to serve those I coach, small mustard seeds of faith hopefully take root in the hearts of those I interact with.”
We never know when these small seeds we plant in others will eventually grow into a vibrant faith leading to a relationship with God. Jerry says that can come in church, reading or seeing something on TV.
“A mustard seed planted simply gives someone the desire to want more than they have right now spiritually and is the first step on a journey that hopefully leads to our Lord and heaven,” he said. “Starting with something as simple as showing love, serving and lovingly rebuking youth can lead them down the path of righteousness.”
Jerry had one sports story that he was especially proud of, although not specifically in coaching. While teaching religious education and struggling to engage a group of middle school boys, he began taking snippets from “The One Year Uncommon Life” by Tony Dungy. Kids in his class referred to him as coach, and he had them create their own team, named the Chick-fil A Chicken Sandwiches. They discussed the “goats” of different sports one day, when Jerry pointed to a crucifix, entering a new candidate, which provoked a response of “Jesus is the GOAT!”
Later that year at confession, one kid in the group was down. When asked, the child said he couldn’t complete his penance because he didn’t know the prayers. One of the other “Chicken Sandwiches” responded that they are a team, and they would all do it together with him to ensure he got through it.
Even with a difficult crew, the crop still grew. If a coach can plant mustard seeds in the hearts of their players, serve them what they need to grow, and rebuke them while giving hope, that coach’s crop will surely become missionary disciples of their own.
Steve Steele is a parishioner at SS Peter and Paul in Pierre. He is a husband, father of four, coach, writer and leader who wants to make the world a better place.
