Coach Bill McCartney

Former head football coach of the University of Colorado, Coach Bill McCartney is the former president and founder of the international men’s ministry, Promise Keepers, a Christ-centered organization dedicated to introducing men to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and then helping them to grow as Christians.

During his time as a football coach he led the University of Colorado to a share of the national championship in 1990. In 1996, he was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame and in 1999 he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored as the Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year in 1985, 1989, and 1990 and also won National Coach of the Year Honors in 1989.

Serving on the board of directors for the Equip Foundation, Gospel to the Unreached Millions, and Concerts of Prayer International, Bill has been honored with personal awards including: Humanitarian of the Year from the Syl Morgan Smith Colorado Gospel Music Academy in 1999, Layperson of the Year from the National Association of Evangelicals in 1996, and ABC News Person of the Week that same year.

Bill is the author of four books, Ashes to Glory, Sold Out, Two-gether, and Blind Spots.

He and his wife Lyndi attend Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, Colorado. They have 4 grown children, Mike, Tom, Kristyn, and Marc and 10 grandchildren.

Coach McCartney “Unplugged”

Our team spent some time with Bill while working on a ministry project. During that time we asked him some questions about coaching, leadership and vision. You can see more of Bill in one of the Bluefish TV video resources on the right.

Bluefish TV: In your experience as a coach, how did being a Christian make you different?

Coach Bill McCartney: When I was coaching, I would often be described as a Christian coach and I would say, “I’m a Christian who coaches.” Who I am, where I gain my identity is in Christ—all of my hope is in Him…when I stepped out of coaching, I didn’t lose the most precious thing in my life, I lost something I enjoyed doing, but he called me into something else. It is Him that I live for, it’s never been coaching. Coaching is intoxicating…compelling. There are a lot of young adults that love their work. They’re engrossed in their work…their focus is on their career not on the one who created them.

Bluefish TV: What is something you have gained from your experiences as a leader, both on and off the field?

Coach Bill McCartney: What people don’t understand is that God gave them a vision and they got on that road, but He only put them on that road to give them the experience because he had something bigger for them to do. But their vision stays down here with the little things that they learn instead of hearing his voice and stepping into the next challenge. Because you’ve got to take a step in faith to get to that next one that takes you out of your comfort zone.

Bluefish TV: How do you encourage young leaders who are struggling to implement vision?

Coach Bill McCartney: When God gives you the vision don’t be surprised if everybody doesn’t get it right away. What they’re looking for in you is the fresh fire, they’ll follow you and you can lead them to the vision…God gives a man the vision and he finds the people—the people find the man and then they find the vision.