The Process — The Journey

Written By: Reggie Hunt

From the Archives: Summer 2013

In many ways, our “journey” is just another way of describing our “process.” Throughout the scriptures, God guarantees our outcomes, but we struggle through the process. If you ever get a glimpse of the excellent product, you do not mind the process. The challenges, setbacks and victories are all a part of the process.

As I reflect over my 18 years in the High Country, there are so many things that God has used to shape me in the process. While attending Appalachian State University, I was committed to serving the community. I have enjoyed working with Parachurch ministries, camps, clubs, community organizations and churches.

Just after graduating from ASU, I interned with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in preparation for the Franklin Graham Festival in 2000.

Among meeting many outstanding people, I met Coach Jerry Moore. I was pleasantly surprised when he invited me to come a football practice. I welcomed the invitation because of my history as a high school athlete and long standing family love of sports. I started spending a lot of time with the team and players. I began to serve as the “2nd string” Chaplain. While it’s nothing to call home about, I enjoyed working with the team and coaches. After a few seasons, Coach Moore asked me to take the lead on the pre-game talks. My first pre-game was against Wyoming, which was not the best game by any means! I thought to myself, “Coach Moore is not going to keep me at all.” In 2004, we finished the season at 6-5. It was a challenging year. We all regrouped and returned the next year to win the first of three championships. Our theme for that year, “guard the bean patch,” spawned out of a pre-game talk in the opening game against Kentucky.

With a degree in Public Relations and Sociology, I expressed an interest in doing some leadership development for ASU. A few years later I accepted a job at ASU as the Director of Player Development. As the Director of Player Development, I began to coordinate community services and help with skills in transition for players. This spring I coordinated over 130 hours of community service for our student athletes. I enjoy working with our coaches and student athletes. We cover a variety of topics and skills throughout the year, such as self awareness, life skills, social responsibility and interaction with the opposite sex. It is my goal to try and make a difference in the players’ lives, both on and off the field. As I reflect, I am amazed at how my previous experiences serving in the community, school and my family background prepared me for these moments.

I have enjoyed developing a relationship with Coach Moore. Early in the relationship, I enjoyed serving and supporting in any way that I could. Outside of my tenure serving with the team I have pastored two churches, married my wife, and we now have three sons together. Coach Moore helped me with all of the transitions by encouraging me and sharing wisdom through several life stages.

Hearing about Coach Moore’s journey gave me a better understanding of my “process.” What I appreciate most about Coach Moore is his consistency, his passion and his stability. He’s always been a really passionate person about his family, his team and about people. I have traveled with Coach Moore and the team on a few speaking engagements outside of football. I have been amazed by observation of his humility and sincerity. While he is an incredible fundraiser, he is also an extravagant giver, supporting many agencies, camps, and people.

I have learned from watching his marriage. I remember traveling to Georgia Southern for a football game. We suffered a pretty bad loss and we were all sick about it. As we loaded the bus, Coach Moore took his seat beside Mrs. Moore. I wondered how he would react after the big loss. Coach got on the bus, hugged his wife and they talked openly. You would have never known that he just lost the game.

After winning the first national championship, everyone was directed to ride the bus back to the hotel. Everyone was so excited that we had won the game that they walked back to the hotel. I waited to make sure that Coach Moore was all right. The only people on the bus were Coach Moore, Mrs. Moore, Richie Williams, the Sports Information Director and myself. Coach Moore got on the bus greeting his wife and enjoying another bus ride. He is always consistent with his wife.

As a man, sometimes it’s hard to transition from work to home. This was a lesson that I learned, in the “process,” always value your family.

Together Coach and Mrs. Moore have invested in families. Mrs. Moore is a wonderful wife and an inspiring woman as well. Over the years I have observed how Mrs. Moore has supported the wives of the coaches and players. She has consistently led and cared for the wives, fiancées and children of the players and coaches. She was always good about remembering stuff like baby showers and gifts for my wife and kids. She heads up small groups, and as a tenured “coach’s wife” is a great resource to the coaches’ wives. Her support for Coach Moore is also amazing. I’ve always been in awe of how she sits in the stands with the hecklers cheering on ASU.

Over the 13 years that I have worked with Coach Moore, we have grown to be friends. Ours is a friendship that I have always valued and never exploited for personal gain. After every game or event I would always turn to Coach and say, “Thank you for the opportunity,” and he would say, “Thank you for the privilege.” That was our relationship, win, lose or draw. That’s how we would end every conversation. As an alumnus of ASU, I am thankful for Coach Moore’s contributions over the years to university and to the football program.

As a young man I have been blessed with the opportunity to be around a few sports greats. Among them are Big House Gaines (Winston-Salem State University) and Coach Jerry Moore. Watching their game plan in sports is inspirational. Watching them behind the scenes is humbling. In the process of life, everyone needs someone who will believe in them, believe with them and sometimes believe for them. Coach Moore has been that type of friend to me. I enjoy his company and respect him immensely.

When Coach Moore’s career at ASU came to a close, I spent some time with him. We talked, laughed, shared stories, prayed, and encouraged one another. When it was time to go home, I said, “Thanks for the opportunity,” and he said, “Thanks for the privilege.” I took it up a notch with Coach and said, “Well, I rejoice in the privilege of calling you ‘friend.’”

Sometimes God’s purpose begins with seemingly small opportunities. My personal journey has not been absent of challenges, setbacks and disappointment. At times I get discouraged at the possible outcomes. All in the same, I’m thankful for the people who have encouraged me and developed me along the way. Men like Coach Jerry Moore are among the few great men who have given me an opportunity.

Thanks for the opportunity, Coach!