Each week on “Making a Difference,” our hosts interview people making a meaningful impact in their community. Today, Morgan Yonge and Greg Chapman had the pleasure of speaking with Jud Damon of Flagler College.
Jud Damon
Director of Athletics at Flagler College
Website address: flaglerathletics.com/
What is a tip for success that you would provide someone in your same industry?
Work hard, lead well, and be cheerfully persistent.
What’s one cause you’re passionate about?
Sharing the Gospel. Helping others however possible.
Transcript:
Morgan:
Welcome back to another episode of Making a Difference, where we highlight those who are making an impact, both here in Jacksonville and all over the world. I’m Morgan Yonge, joined today by my fabulous co-host, fabulous indeed Mr. Greg Chapman with FCA: Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Hello.
Greg:
Glad to be back. Glad you’re here. It’s my pleasure to introduce you all to a friend of FCA here in Northeast Florida. I call him coach because I feel like once your coach, you’re always a coach. And we’ll let him share more about himself. But meet Judd Damon.
Jud:
Thanks for having me. Happy to be here. Thank you.
Morgan:
So, athletic director of Flagler. Yes. What? How did you get involved? And what all does that entail?
Jud:
Well, how did I get involved in athletics? I’ve been involved in athletics my whole life. You know, I grew up playing football, basketball, baseball, hockey, downhill skiing, swimming, you name it. And, so it probably was natural for me to end up being an athletic director. And have an appreciation for all sports. But, I played baseball in college at the University of Pennsylvania, and then I, got my graduate degree in sport management at the University of Massachusetts, coached baseball at UMass for a couple of years, and worked in professional baseball, minor league, front office for a couple of years, but missed the coaching.
Jud:
And, so I said I gotta get back to coaching somehow and ended up going from New England down to Miami, and head baseball coach at Miami Christian School for a few years, then at Trinity International University as the head baseball coach and athletic director.1997 to 2000, met my wife, got married, and she got pregnant.
Jud:
And we said we wanted to look elsewhere as far as, raising a family and nothing against Miami, but we we wanted to look elsewhere. Yeah. So, so I was trying to figure out, you know, am I going to coach be an ad? I was also teaching some classes, and and, Anyway, I ended up getting the athletic director job at Savannah College of Art and design, SCAD in Savannah, Georgia, where Louis is a former major league pitcher, was the baseball coach.
Jud:
And Cassie Russell, former NBA star, was the basketball coach. And it was a very interesting place. I was there for eight years as the AD, and then became the A.D. at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia, which is Division two school in the Peach Belt Conference. And from there, I came to Flagler College in 2009. Fantastic. It’s cool.
Greg:
So, Jud, you’ve been around sports a long time, as a coach and now coaching coaches. Within FCA, we always encourage coaches to know your “why” other than the wins and losses, which we know that’s job security. And it’s important like the win is a lot more fun to win than others. But what would you say your “why” is as a coach? And maybe has that transitioned over the years with your role as athletic director?
Jud:
Well, I appreciate the question because it’s a question I make sure I ask every coach I’ve ever interviewed for for a coaching job is, why are you a coach? Why do you do this? And and if somewhere in there an answer is not.
Jud:
I’m hoping to have a positive influence on the lives of my student athletes and make a difference for them, then they’re probably not going to fit too well in our culture, of our athletic department. So it it’s changed for me. The why has has changed. Because I have a lot more direct contact and impact, on on adults, on the, the staff, the people that work for me.
Jud:
And I don’t have as much day to day interaction with student athletes, but I’m hoping that by how I do things, by the way, I lead by the impact or influence I have on coaches and other leaders in the athletic department that it’s translating to impact on the lives of our student athletes. So I had a coach, one not too long ago, ask me what are the most important things or traits for a leader that you think a leader has to have.
Jud:
He kind of caught me off guard. I mean, there are a lot of great things you could name, a lot of things you would look for in a leader. But, it kind of came down to, courage and clarity for me.
Jud:
You’re having the courage to stand up for what you believe and having clarity about your expectations. So, I have transitioned, and it’s been a long time now. I’ve been an ad for 30 years now. So, it’s just transition to trying to make sure that I’m clear and have the courage to make the tough decisions and say the right things at the right time to the coaches, other staff.
Morgan:
Absolutely. And that being said, we love to incorporate faith into this show and into our lives however we can. How do you incorporate faith into your coaching? Well, there’s no way for me not to. It is who I am. And, I don’t leave it at the door when I get to work or someplace else.
Jud:
I’m trying to honor God with my life. I’m trying to make sure that I’m prepared to give an answer whenever asked, about my faith. And I share my faith, regularly with coaches, with student athletes and, we do all that we can to make sure that I don’t want any student athlete coming through in Flagler College is not a faith based institution where.
Jud:
But I don’t want student athletes coming through our program without getting some exposure to the gospel. And so, we do things to make that happen. And one of those things is I can tell them my experience. I can tell them about my faith. I can tell them why I’m a believer. And, and I do that.
Jud:
So I mean, there’s I think there has been a lot of misinterpretation of different things over the years that you’re not allowed to or not permitted to share your faith or mention God or mention Jesus. In the public square. You know, if there’s ever any repercussions for doing that, then, rejoice and care that I was counted worthy to suffer a little persecution.
Morgan:
All right. Amen to that. Yeah.
Greg:
So, knowing that you’ve been around sports for a long time. Everyone has their first year, and then we all jump into this not knowing what we don’t know. Ready to win every game we coach? What would you say? Maybe to the first year baseball coach Judd Damon or some of those other young coaches who might see this? What would you say to them to encourage them to to combine their faith with their influence as a coach, wherever they are, whatever sport, whatever level? How would you encourage them?
Jud:
Well, one thing I would do is, I would advise my 24 year old self to, ask more questions, to learn the craft of coaching and leadership, or in other words, exercise some humility. You know that, I just recall being that age and thinking that I knew more than the head coach was a lowly assistant, and I just should have learned more, asked more questions. But as far as incorporating your faith, I think that the most important thing is your, you know, your integrity, your authenticity. That’s who you are. And, you know, if we’re ashamed of him here, he’ll be ashamed of us before his father in heaven. And, I want to make sure, like. Okay, do not be ashamed. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re not. You’re going to be imperfect. And, that’s not a reflection on your savior. That’s a reflection on you.
Jud:
And so, remember that you don’t, you know, don’t try to be pretend that you’re perfect. You, you know, just acknowledge you are who you are and you’re a sinner saved by grace. So, I would I would advise myself to, to learn more, ask more questions, talk less, listen to more.
Morgan:
Absolutely. Be humble. Yeah. The top three ways the enemy gets to us. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. So that’s a kicker for all of us. I know. Yes. Well, thank you for sharing your expertise with us and, sharing your why and your faith journey. I really appreciate having you on the show.
Jud:
Thank you for having me, I appreciate it. Yeah.
Morgan:
And thank you for tuning in to another episode. If you want more information, head on over to Living My faith.com, and we’ll see you in the next episode of Making a Difference.
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