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Four Core Values of
"...what matters most is that student athletes
discover who they are in Jesus Christ..."
LETU Athletic Director
Terri Deike
Written by Janet Ragland
Sports at LeTourneau University are about more
than who scores the most points. Sports are about
building character, both on and off the playing field.
“While the score at the end of the game
matters, what matters most is that student-athletes
discover who they are in Jesus Christ through
hard work, competition, teamwork and academic
excellence,” said LETU Athletic Director Terri Deike,
who came to LETU in 2009 as athletic director after
30 years of coaching and teaching.
“As a member of NCAA Division III and the
American Southwest Conference, LETU places the
highest priority on the overall quality of the studentathlete’s
educational experience and successful
completion of their academic programs,” Deike
said. “Coaches play a significant role as educators.”
Deike expects student-athletes to work hard. She
is no stranger to hard work herself. Deike grew up on
dairy farm five miles south of a town of 250. She and
her sisters were the “hired help” to run the farm.
“We were taught to work hard and get the job
done, regardless of the time it took. My father was
an ex-coach, teacher and superintendent, so we
were taught to be the best we could,” Deike said.
“Quitting and giving up were not options.” Deike
played basketball and showed cows in 4H and FFA,
graduating in a class of eight students.
She majored in health/physical education and
biology in college at East Texas State University,
now Texas A&M Commerce. At the age of 22, she
got her first coaching job as head basketball coach
in Overton, Texas. Her career would take her to
Hallsville, Belton, Whitehouse and University of
Texas at Tyler before landing her at LETU.
“Athletics has helped make me who I am, taught
me how to live, how to treat others, how to achieve
success,” Deike said. “Athletics opens doors, helps
you achieve what you never thought you could. It
stretches you, helps shape the kind of husband/
wife, parent, employee, or friend you will be.”
LETU offers 13 NCAA sports including men’s
baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer
and tennis as well as women’s softball, volleyball,
basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis.
This past year, Deike said one LETU athlete was
an all-around standout.
Nicole Leman (’13) is a four-year letter winner
in women’s cross country, who advanced to national
competition in the NCAA Division III women’s cross
country championship in Terra Haute, Ind.
“Nicole Leman and golfer Leslie Lee (’11) are the
only LETU athletes ever to qualify for NCAA national
championships,” Deike said.
Deike says success like this takes hard work.
“You can be successful if you are willing to set
goals and work hard to achieve those goals; no days
off, no games off,” she said.
Competing in athletics with a God-centered
focus can be one of the most effective and
meaningful classrooms anywhere, Deike said.
“Our goal is to develop each student-athlete’s
gifts, talents and abilities to their fullest potential,
while they grow spiritually and learn valuable life
lessons,” Deike said.
To do this, LETU’s Athletic Department focuses
on four core values: Accountability, Commitment,
12 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013