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July 17, 2018

Alumni Spotlight: Chris Williams '92 - Balancing Faith, Family, and Work

Chris Williams ’92 (Social Work) and ’00 (Master of Strategic Leadership) is the Director of Athletics at Southern Wesleyan University, a Christian college in Central, South Carolina. Chris is also the President of the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). He has been at Southern Wesleyan since 2007, having moved there after a career at Roberts as both a player (men’s basketball ‘88-‘92 – member of the 1,000 point club) and coach (women’s basketball asst. coach ‘92-‘99 and head coach ‘99-‘04).

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Chris is married to his wife, Lisa ’91 (Social Work) and ’98 (Master of Social Work), and has five children:  Nicole, Seth, Emma, Silas, and Ian. They live in Central, South Carolina.  

Let’s learn more about Chris and his experience in his own words.  

What brought you to Roberts? 

I was on a college visit, being recruited to play basketball by a different upstate New York college. On my campus visit, it became apparent that I was not going to be comfortable with the community setting. After the campus visit and tour, the coach asked if I was happy with what I had experienced. When I said no, he then recommended that I visit Roberts Wesleyan College. He knew Dr. Ken Sisson (the men’s basketball head coach and athletic director) and he actually made a phone call to Dr. Sisson on my behalf and set up my visit to Roberts Wesleyan for later that month. God was writing my playbook for Roberts even before I knew about Roberts. 

How did your experience at Roberts shape your life and career path?  

Roberts Wesleyan College put me on the career path to lead people. The experiences I had in my undergrad degree, as well as my graduate program, prepared me with knowledge and expertise. Those skills have led me to the place I am today, the director of athletics at a small Christian college in South Carolina. My experiences after college, as an employee at Roberts, allowed me even greater opportunities to grow. As an admissions counselor, I learned how to recruit students and work with people from diverse backgrounds. Roberts also gave me opportunities to learn the world of athletics while I served as the women's basketball coach helping in other areas within the department of athletics such as event management. 

Describe your current vocation and the way God is working in your life. 

God created me to use the platform of sport/athletics to share the story of Jesus! Coaching was the entry point to my current vocation as the leader of athletics. Coaching allowed me to grow and develop as a person and develop into the leader which God had intended me to become. Mentors such as Mike Faro (former AD at Roberts) and Skip Lord (former AD at Houghton College) helped to mold, encourage, develop, critique, and love me. These experiences have led to the current job as the Director of Athletics at SWU. 

At SWU we strive to develop ourselves as coaches and help our student-athletes through:

  •          Spiritual Development
  •          Academic Success
  •          Community Service
  •          Athletic Excellence

We hope to leave a student-athlete with an experience which made their faith in Jesus stronger, their academics a priority, learning that service is lived out daily and that success is seen through competition and teamwork.

As the second AD in university history, we have seen many highlights since 2004-05:

  •          Successful membership transition from the NAIA into the NCAA DII
  •          Addition of 9 varsity sports including the growth of student-athletes from 180 to nearly 300
  •          Academic success – overall department GPA of 3.25
  •          Several lives rededicated or given to Christ for the first time!
  •          15 NCCAA national championships
  •          Extensive athletic venue construction and upgrades

God continues to lead me, my marriage, my family and my work. When I wake up each morning I look in the mirror and my mind says, “You’re awesome. You can do this thing all by yourself!” Then as I hit the door to get into the car to drive to work I am reminded that I cannot do this alone – and shouldn’t! God is in control and driving it all…I am encouraged to follow his plan and work to bring Him the glory. I pray that I can continue to do so, in whatever I am doing!

Describe a person/professor at Roberts who made an impact on you.

Charley Cannon, who worked in the library, was one of the people who had an impact on my life, particularly in my first few years at Roberts. He was someone who I had to go see due to my grades not being where they needed to be. He walked me through the expectations as a college student-athlete but also my expectations for graduation. He was able to say the things that my mom and dad had said to me but had not sunk in and he put real meaning and weight behind it which only reinforced with my parents had already said to me earlier. Charley became a good friend later on as I became an employee. I often went to Mr. Cannon for advisement and guidance. He was someone who I could talk to and share some of my frustrations. He was there for me and was always someone who would talk me off the ledge and give me sage advice for my career.

Share a fun story, memory, and/or experience.

My now wife and I used to work for food service helping to cater events at the President’s home. One night, after working the event, President Crothers and his wife stepped out the front door to say goodbye to their guests. As they did Lisa and I snuck up the stairs to the BT Roberts’ bedroom. We wanted to sit on the bed and kiss. Well, we did! As the front door squeaked open downstairs we rushed down the steps hoping no one would detect us. Years later we shared this story with the president and his wife at their retirement party. 

What advice/insight do you have for current students interested in your career field?

Get as many experiences as possible! Don’t be afraid to just go and ask to do things-small college athletics requires us to juggle and wear many hats. You must be willing to work tons of hours and many times late at night and weekends. As I enter my 13th year as AD, I am trying to do a better job to keep balance in my life. God, marriage, family and then work...I am currently battling through clinical depression and anxiety brought on by the lack of balance in my life. As I continue to work through these issues on a daily basis.  I am working to guard the margins of my life – managing my schedule in such a way that I take time to read, exercise, dream, and spend time with my wife and kids. I pray for myself and for you that we continue to strive for excellence protecting our hearts. Mark Batterson states that Guarding the Margins = Guarding the Heart.  He goes on to say that when we lose our margin we get it backwards. You are not alone and God’s got this!


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