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I was able to catch up with Coach, who
is supposedly retired, late this summer
— one day before he was leaving on yet
another sports ministry trip.
“I always knewwhat I was going to do in
life,” he proclaimed. “Even though I didn’t
know where I would be, God had put me
into athletics to minister.
“After 50 years at Cedarville, I did
everything I wanted to do in my life. I
just wanted to provide a good example of
following Christ and being a witness for
Him throughout the world. I’ve been able
to do that.”
As a young man, Callan himself was
the recipient of the “teach others also”
command by his former coach and
influencer, the late Don Odle at
Taylor University.
“Don Odle had the biggest
impact on me, and my life has
demonstrated that. Everyone that
knew us said I was a clone.
“He may not have been the
best coach, but he was the most
influential man I was ever around
because he was so committed to
reaching the lost with the Gospel of
Christ.”
One three-month trip through
East Asia with Odle and the
Ventures for Victory basketball
team was all it took.
“It was the 1950s, and I think
we were the first team to ever use
sports for evangelism,” he recalled.
“It’s where I caught the real vision
of ministry.”
That vision evolved into a
worldwide passion for evangelism,
much of it involving athletics
as the common denominator,
spanning seven decades. Callan is
also co-founder of Cedarville’s Missions
Involvement Service (MIS), now known as
Global Outreach, in 1970 along with “PG,”
the late Pastor Harold Green.
Their ambition was the same as that of
the current President, Thomas White. “Our
desire was to have every student, faculty,
and staff member experience what we’d
experienced in evangelism,” Callan said.
“We wanted them to get out and see how
the world really is, who the people are, how
lost they are, and how Christ can change
their lives. That was always the objective.”
That desire alone has influenced scores
of people.
Callan ventured out to East Asia with
his own team during the summer of 1970.
One of the members of that initial squad
was Cedarville’s current Vice President for
Academics and Chief Academic Officer
(Interim), Loren Reno ’70.
A native of the village of Cedarville and
a former Yellow Jacket on the hardwood,
Reno is credited with actually coming up
with the team’s name, Athletes for Christ.
“Loren is so special,” said Callan. “I’m not
sure that he didn’t influence me more than
I did him.”
Reno has a different take.
“Coach Callan taught me much more
than basketball. He taught me character,
hard work, teamwork, and serving.
He modeled all these along with a love
for missions.
“Though 15 years his junior, I had
trouble keeping up with Coach on and off
the court, here at home, and on themissions
field. Coach used basketball to teach about
life and living for the Lord. He still ‘coaches’
many of us today.”
Another local product and Cedarville
grad, Tim Walker ’99, has been the head
men’s basketball coach at Malone University
since 2009. He added, “Outside of my father,
no man has had a greater impact on my life.
So much so that my wife and I named our
youngest son ‘Callan’ to honor the legacy
that Coach has had.
“Whether I am in coaching or any other
field, I will always owe a great deal of my
commitment to discipleship, local church
ministry, and world missions to the impact
that Don Callan has had on my life.”
True “retirement” doesn’t appear to be
on the horizon. Coach andBrianHanson ’89
of GateKeepers Ministries continue their
work locally with the Central State
University football team and the
Wilberforce University basketball
teams, with many of the players
coming to Christ.
God opened the door a few
years ago in professional hockey
with the old Dayton Gems. When
the Lord closed it, He miraculously
led them to become the chaplains
of the NHL’s Columbus Blue
Jackets last season.
“I’m not spectacular, but I’m
not bashful,” Callan explained. “I’ll
talk to anyone. I’ve met leaders
of countries, ambassadors, and I
share the same message with them.
“I meet with the Senior Jackets
at the fitness center on campus.
Many of them don’t know Christ
as their personal Savior. I tell them
the same stories that I’ve witnessed
in my life and that God does
spectacular things in spite of us.”
Look at those titles again —
coach, missions leader, athletic
director, professor, department chair, and
dean — and, a godly example in every one
of them.
Several years ago, I developed a short list
of men who’ve influenced my life the most.
Coach Callan is on it.
Mark Womack ’82
has been the Sports
Information Director at Cedarville University
since 1983.
Cedarville Magazine
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