I’D LIKE TO THANK RICHARD WESTERLUND WHO IS THE HEAD COACH FOR GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS IN LANSING, MICHIGAN IN THE NCCAA FOR SHARING ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES AND HIS THOUGHTS ON THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN. HE SHARED, ADVICE TO YOUNG COACHES: “I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I’VE BEEN TOLD AS I GROWING THROUGH THIS PROFESSION IS 1. BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED. IT IS REALLY HARD TO MOVE UP THE LADDER IN COACHING IF YOU’RE NOT BRINGING VALUE WHERE YOU’RE AT. YOU WANT TO BE FULLY INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM YOU’RE IN. STAYING IN YOUR PRESENT WILL ALLOW YOUR FUTURE TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. 2. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE SMARTER THAN YOU. YOUNG COACH NEEDS TO BE SECURE ENOUGH IN HIMSELF TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE HIM OR HAVING SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE UP FOR BLIND SPOTS. I KNOW IN MY OWN JOURNEY I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSISTANTS
WHO CHALLENGED MY THOUGHT PROCESS WHICH REALLY HELPED ME GROW. 3. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOUR WIN LOSS RECORD WON’T BE ON YOUR TOMBSTONE, MAKE IT ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOUR COACHING. INVEST IN THEM DAILY. THAT’S NOT TO SAY YOU CAN’T BE COMPETITIVE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY COACHING GIVES US A PLATFORM TO IMPACT LIVES. UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE POSITION. LEGACY IS ABOUT PLANTING SEEDS. CHANGING ONE LIFE IS BETTER THAN 1000 WINS.”

SEASON PREVIEW “GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS GEARED UP FOR ANOTHER SEASON. EXPECTATIONS ARE ONCE AGAIN HIGH FOR GLCC PROGRAM AS THEY RETURN 3 TIME ALL AMERICAN ISIAH REED AND ALL AMERICAN AND REGION POY TRENT TEMPLE LEADING THE WAY. CRUSADERS RETURN THEIR ENTIRE ROSTER WHILE ADDING GOOD SIZE AND ATHLETICISM IN THE RECRUITING CLASS. THE CRUSADERS FINISHED THE SEASON RANKED #8 IN THE NCCAA. CRUSADERS WILL LOOK TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR AFTER NARROWLY MISSING THE FIELD IN 2020-21. COACH WESTERLUND HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON: “I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR GROUP THIS YEAR. WE BROUGHT BACK EVERYONE FROM LAST YEARS ROSTER AND ADDED SOME PIECES THAT COMPLIMENT OUR GROUP. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE VERSATILITY AND SIZE THIS YEAR TO DO SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST. WE’VE HAD GREAT OFF-SEASON AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CHANGING OUR BEST THIS SEASON AND PURSUING THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES.”