Join Dr. Larry Hester and Dr. Garland Owensby, March 8-17

Spotlight: Donnie BostwickBostwick spent the last four years asathletic director and head coachat Oklahoma Wesleyan University(OWU) earning a record of 120-20. Histeams qualified for the National Associationof Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)National tournament each year and were2009 NAIA National Champions. He wasnamed the NAIA DII Coach of the Yearin 2009 & 2010 and the 2009 MCACAthletics Director of the Year.President Bridges shared with thebasketball team, “Coach Bostwick isarguably the most qualified coach we’veever hired, having reached championshipstatus at every level as a player and coach,but it is his total commitment to thespiritual development of student-athletesthat really stands out and makes himsuch a great addition to the University.”He is a member of NationalAssociation of Basketball Coaches(NABC), has served as a NAIA NationalRater, and now serves on the NABC-NAIA Executive Committee. He was alsoa NABC guest speaker at the Final Fourin Houston, TX, this past year.“Nothing is more important to methan having the opportunity to influencecollege-aged student-athletes in their ownspiritual development,” Bostwick said. “Mymission field is coaching and teaching.It ranks first among my [vocational]priorities.”After a 10-year stint as assistantcoach at John Brown University (JBU) inArkansas, Bostwick took the reins of theOklahoma Wesleyan program that hadfour consecutive 20-loss seasons. He led theEagles to season records of 26-8, 35-2, 30-5and 29-5 qualifying the team for a place inthe NAIA national tournament each time.While his team won NAIA’s DIINational Championship in 2009, the otherthree campaigns ended with trips to theSweet 16, the Elite Eight and the FinalFour. Additionally, two of his OWU Eagleswere named the NAIA Division II NationalPlayers of the Year the past two seasons.In the book he is currently workingon, Bostwick shares the biblical principlesthat he lives by and instills in his players.He teaches that mental toughness is builtthrough sacrifice, self-denial and dedicationto God. While meekness, preparation,lovingness, focus and humility are amonghis lessons learned, adversity is one lessonhe speaks most candidly about. He callsit the “Consider Adversity Pure JoyPrinciple.”He writes, “There are a few things inlife you can be sure to expect on a regular“ If you welcome adversity,then it will give you a betterchance of overcoming it. ”basis. The sun will rise in the morning, andyou can always count on adversity showingup along your path. If you welcomeadversity, then it will give you a betterchance of overcoming it.”Bostwick earned a bachelor’s degreein Social Studies Education at John BrownUniversity in Siloam Springs, AR. Healso holds a master’s degree in Health andPhysical Education from Northeastern StateUniversity in Tahlequah, OK. He hopes tohave his book published in the near future.He and his wife Sheri have four children:Gunter (14), Paige (12), Kylie (9) and Kade(6). •Leave Your Mark - 19