Stan joins Nations of Coaches in 2023 after have been a head coach in Indiana for twenty-five years at the college and high school level. He has also been a college assistant coach for over twelve years. Stan owns a basketball camp called Higher Level Sports that has served families for thirty years and works part-time with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has been married to Brenda for forty-nine years and they are blessed with three children and eight grandchildren. Stan and Brenda currently live in Pendleton, Indiana.

Coach Carter earned an associate’s degree from Hutchinson Community College (1976), his bachelor’s degree in education from Kansas (1979) and a Master’s in education from Oklahoma (1984). He is a past board member of both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Tim and his wife, Sheila, have two daughters, Kiara and Kortney, and a son, Wynton.

Billy has over 25 years of church, nonprofit, and for-profit leadership experience. He also serves as the character coach for the Lehigh University Men’s Basketball team and on the board of Push The Rock which he founded. Billy has served as a chaplain in professional sports, has assisted in the launch of a number of nonprofit organizations, and he has worked with organizations and nonprofit ministries around the world. Billy has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and his married to his college sweetheart, Cindy. Together they are passionate about serving the Lord and advancing the kingdom.

Originally from New England, Dave spent his entire basketball coaching career in the Carolinas—except for his final two years at VMI in Lexington, Virginia, where he and his wife Pam now reside. After moving to Western North Carolina during his junior year of high school, he graduated from Mitchell High School and went on to earn a B.A. in Education while playing at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC (1983). He later earned an M.A. in Physical Education from Gardner-Webb University (1993) and is currently a dissertation away from completing his Doctorate in Education at Liberty University in Virginia.

Dave’s coaching career spanned more than 40 years, primarily at the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels. He served as a head coach for 28 of those years—19 at Pfeiffer University (NC) and 9 at Newberry College (SC). He concluded his college coaching journey with five years at the Division I level as Associate Head Coach alongside Pat Kelsey at Winthrop and College of Charleston, and at VMI with Head Coach Andrew Wilson. Over the course of his career, Dave’s teams won more than 700 games and over 30 championships. He has been honored with induction into five Halls of Fame.

Dave now serves as the Regional Director for Virginia and Washington, D.C., with Nations of Coaches. He is passionate about seeing God move in the lives of athletes and coaches.

Roger Idstrom serves as the Regional Director in Tennessee and brings more than 35 years of faithful leadership in college basketball, serving at nearly every level of the game with excellence and integrity. Throughout his coaching journey, he has invested in student-athletes at Lipscomb University, Stetson University, Belmont University, Gardner-Webb University, Wabash Valley College, Montreat College, University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Mars Hill University. His teams competed in national postseason play eight times across four institutions, including six NCAA Division I Tournament appearances—evidence of both competitive excellence and sustained impact. 

A native of Louisville and a graduate of Mars Hill University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations, Roger has built his career on clear vision, steady leadership, and a deep commitment to developing the whole person.

Today, Roger and his wife, Jennifer, call Nashville home, where they are raising their twin boys. As a member of Fellowship Bible Church, Roger’s heart for discipleship continues to shape his life and ministry. He is deeply committed to mentoring men to become wholehearted followers of Christ—investing relationally, walking faithfully, and pointing coaches and athletes toward a life that honors God both on and off the court.

Murray Garvin serves as the Regional Director in Kentucky. He has a long history as a dynamic and inspiring speaker, coach, and leader whose life and career reflect resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to youth empowerment. Born and raised in Pikeville, Kentucky, his early experiences navigating life as a minority in a small Eastern Kentucky town shaped his passion for equity, mentorship, and personal growth. With more than 28 years of coaching experience across high school and Division I college basketball, Murray has built a reputation for developing not only strong teams, but strong people—leaving a lasting impact everywhere he has served.

His coaching journey includes roles at Tates Creek High School, Clinton Jr. College (where he also served as Athletic Director), Charleston Southern University, Winston-Salem State University, and an 11-year tenure as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at South Carolina State University. Following his collegiate career, he continued investing in young lives through leadership roles at local high schools and most recently as a Student Belonging and Transition Specialist with Fayette County Public Schools.

Beyond the court, Murray is known for his authenticity, energy, and ability to connect with diverse audiences. He and his wife, LaTanza, reside in Lexington.

Kelly’s heart is to help and inspire coaches. What she learned while coaching at the college level is the demand on the coaches’ lives. She is dedicating her ministry to support and encourage coaches of women’s college basketball.

In 2019, Grayson began his time with Nations of Coaches as an intern. With his passion to combine both sports and ministry, it became evident that God was leading him to work more permanently with Nations of Coaches. Starting full-time in 2020, Grayson has been working closely with Character Coaches, NOC’s “boots on the ground,” as the Character Coach Coordinator.

As the full-time Character Coach Coordinator, Grayson focuses on equipping and overseeing Character Coaches across the country. This work allows him to invest in men and women who serve college basketball programs and help advance God’s Kingdom through the game of basketball.

Grayson and his wife Bailey have two children.

Since joining Nations of Coaches as a volunteer Character Coach in 2018, Brandon has been passionate about integrating his love for sports with his calling to share the gospel and encourage coaches and athletes in their faith. In 2024, he was honored to receive the Nations of Coaches Character Coach of the Year award and in 2025, Brandon started overseeing the Character Coach Captains initiative. 

Prior to Nations of Coaches, Brandon worked in the medical field from 2008–2011 then transitioned into education, teaching, and coaching at the high school level from 2011–2017. During this time, he coached multiple sports at West Florida High School.

Alongside his coaching career, Brandon served as Director of Collegiate Ministries at Olive Baptist Church, where he also began his journey as a Character Coach with the Pensacola State College men’s basketball team. He went on to serve as Director of Recreation Ministries and now serves as the Collegiate Sports Liaison at Olive Baptist Church, partnering with 11 athletic programs at the University of West Florida and 4 programs at Pensacola State College.

Brandon has been married to his wife, Krista, since 2008. They have two sons—John Luke and James Titus.

Lynette received her MS degree in Engineering Management from Cleveland State University in 1994 and her BS from North Carolina A&T in 1990.

Lynette served as a women’s teacher-leader with the Bible Study Fellowship in Charleston, West Virginia, and she and Jayson have facilitated marriage Bible studies and have been the keynote speakers for the 2011 FCA marriage retreat. She currently serves as a co-facilitator of a life group “Healthy by Design” at Every Nation Cincinnati in Ohio, and as a facilitator with Coaches Wives Bible Study.

Lynette celebrates 30 years as a coach’s wife to Jayson. They have 3 children, Brandon, 27, Bryan, 24, and Briana, 15, and reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jessica Howard is a devoted wife and loving mom who’s had the privilege of being a coach’s wife for 16 years. Her journey has taught her the value of resilience and unwavering support.

Her entrepreneurial experience has honed her skills in managing both people and projects, and deepened her understanding that success thrives on teamwork. With a heart for Christ and people, Jessica feels blessed to work with Nations of Coaches to see coaches and their families impacted for the glory of God.

Dee Kijanko, an author, artist, speaker and mentor is passionate for the heart of women, marriage and family.  She considers the opportunity to serve and glorify God through Nations of Coaches, using her training in family and marriage counseling with a Christian and Biblical worldview, one of her greatest blessings in this season of her life. 

With deep gratitude she rejoices in her 50-year partnership for the gospel of Christ with husband Tony.  She feels humbled and privileged to link arms with him in ministry through his 50 years coaching; through leading international mission teams world wide for over 30 years; and now serving as Marriage Enrichment Coaches together with NOC.

Today, their greatest adventure is loving Christopher and Suzanne, Angie and Ryan, Karrah, Josh and Nikki, and their six precious “K’s”, grandchildren Kenedy, Kade, Krew, Kolton, Karsyn and Koralyn.

Before Tony Kijanko’s 50-year football coaching career, he played offensive tackle at Bowling Green State University and professionally for the Cleveland Browns. Afterward, he coached high school football in Ohio and Georgia, and college football at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. 

In addition to the privilege of ministry to athletic teams, Tony served the communities he lived in as a certified firefighter, emergency (EMTI) medic, and rescue master diver. He has also led medical, athletic, and college teams into all the world with his wife Dee since 1992. In this season of his life he is grateful to serve coaches and their wives as a Marriage Enrichment Coach and mentor with Dee through NOC.

The Kijankos are grateful to have parented four children and now are filled with joy to be called “Mimi” and “Papa” by their 6 ‘K’s”, Kenedy, Kade, Krew, Kolton, Karsyn and Koralyn.

During the past 18 years of coaching, Curtis said the Lord led him and his family to invest spiritually into the lives of the young men and their families. He has since found great purpose in continuing to do so within the Nations of Coaches team as he enthusiastically shares the vision of the organization and invites others to learn more. Curtis and his wife, Tanya, have been married for 30 years and have three adult children.

Chris comes to NOC from 26 years of coaching and teaching/administration, most recently at The First Academy in Florida. Over the decades, he has built strong connections with collegiate and NBA coaches across the country while also developing numerous friends and supporters of NOC.

As Chris strongly believes that coaches who are centered on Christ will impact eternity through future generations, he is excited to share the mission of NOC as the Legacy Advancement Coordinator. He joined the Legacy Team to raise support for the organization as a whole while also assisting Jim Good reach out to coaches in Florida.

Chris and his wife, Becky, have four children.

Evie joined Nations of Coaches in January 2023 as the Legacy Admin. She earned both a BS and a Master’s Degree from Auburn University and brings sports marketing experience from her years working at the Auburn Network, Inc. As an added dimension to Legacy development for the ministry, Evie also helps process accounts receivable for Nations of Coaches. A native of Eufaula, Alabama, Evie enjoys traveling and spending time with family, especially her three sons – Wesley, Jeb, and Chet.

Susan received a BA from Covenant College in English education and music as well as an MA in counseling from Lindenwood University.  Before joining Nations of Coaches in 2021, she taught English for over twenty years. True to her passion for a good cup of Joe, she also moonlit as a barista in two different local coffee shops to help put her sons through college.

Susan and her husband, Steve, are recent residents to Decatur, Alabama, and she is grateful for the opportunity to use her gifts of service, organization, writing, and editing to assist Tommy and Heather Kyle at the Home Office in their ministry.

In addition to her three adult sons, Susan has two lovely daughters-in-law and three beautiful granddaughters whom she drives to see as much as possible. She also serves as the church pianist at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama.  In her spare time, she enjoys yard work, hiking, bird watching, and lounging with her two fur buddies.

Rich grew up in West Virginia and has a degree in Sports Management and Marketing from Marshall University. After working for a year in the athletic department at James Madison University, he joined the staff of Cru. He and his wife, Becky, served with Cru campus ministry and Athletes in Action for 25 years, primarily in NC and KY. In addition to being with the team, he loves watching his children’s sporting events and being outdoors.

Jake Kates serves as the Character Coach for the University of Missouri – Kansas City Men’s Basketball program.  Jake was born and raised in Kansas City and has been a high school basketball coach for the past twenty-three years. Jake uses his experience of building culture and reaching young men as a high school coach as he serves the team in Kansas City. Your gifts will allow Jake to minister to the administration, coaches, players, and student body using the platform of basketball.

Carl Lanham, Character Coach at Coastal Carolina University, grew up in South Carolina. After playing college basketball in the 1980s at USC-Aiken, he coached high school basketball for twelve years.

Carl has also served with a prison basketball ministry for eight years, playing and pastoring. He is a licensed minister and served with Athletes in Action for seven years.

Carl currently lives in Red Hill, South Carolina with his wife, Angela, and they have two adult children, Jonah and Qunteelah.

John Ryberg serves as the Character Coach for The University of Alabama in Huntsville Men’s Basketball program. John is an ordained Methodist Elder and formerly worked in the hospitality industry as a hotel manager and restaurant owner. John and his wife, Beth, draw on their hospitality and ministry experience to serve the team throughout the year. Your gifts allow them to provide care and service to the coaches, student-athletes, managers, and staff.