At the ripe age of 37 years old, LaVall Jordan became a Division 1 head basketball coach and only one season later he became the head coach of his alma mater, Butler University. There is no question that Coach Jordan's story is special, but recently he was let go as head coach of the Bulldogs. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Coach Jordan talks about his coaching journey, the role his faith in Christ has played in that journey, and how he has worked to overcome his recent termination. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

My experience at SEME 2022 was amazing! During the two-day conference, I was able to hear from experts in the sports industry on a variety of different topics. One of my favorite panels was the post-pandemic effect: opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned. I was also fortunate enough to network with other young professionals in the sports industry! Learning about the different backgrounds people had and how they got to where they were was inspiring and insightful. I was also fortunate to meet Buffy Filippell, Founder & President of TeamWork Online. It was such an honor to introduce myself to the person behind the website that has helped me so much in my career! Her advice and tips on how to stand out in the sport industry were also invaluable to me.

Upon accepting a new job in the sport industry, it can be difficult to know what the proper next steps are to prepare for the job transition process. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, USG members and leaders within the college sport industry, Nick Hunt and Kyle Richardson, discuss their recent job transitions and how young professionals in sports should manage their job transitions. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

As Christians working in the sport industry, it is becoming increasingly important to speak out on cultural issues. A common cultural topic that is addressed in the sport industry via the media, organizations, universities, and teams is racial tensions and injustices happening across the country. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Baltimore Ravens chaplain Johnny Shelton, talks about the issues of racial injustice in the United States and how Christians should respond. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

All too often in my life I have found myself feeling alone and left in a place where I deeply desire community with other believers in my daily life. After graduating from Liberty University and moving to a new state, my greatest prayer was that I would come across Christian community with other like-minded individuals in my new city. God did not hesitate to answer this prayer! After becoming a USG member last year, I have been overjoyed to meet many Jesus-following sport professionals who have a similar mission as myself – to use the game of basketball as an avenue to reach people for Christ. The network that USG has connected me with shows me that I am not alone in this fight of being a Christian in the sports industry. Last week, with the help of USG, I was blessed to be sent to New Orleans, Louisiana for the NABC Coaches Convention. I was overwhelmed by the blessing it was to experience a weekend of relationship building, professional development, and spiritual growth. Growing up a college basketball fan, the spectacle that is the Final Four always captivated my attention. The buildup that is generated throughout the month of March, all being culminated into a single weekend of fandom and excitement stirs up a childlike joy in the hearts of fans from every corner of the country. Now I find myself walking the halls of the largest NCAA coach’s convention, seeing the faces of coaches and players I have admired my entire life. This time, not as a fan, but a fellow coach. My natural response in this moment was to reflect on the blessing the Lord has given me of pursuing the opportunity of being a college basketball coach. Without the mission of USG, I would not have had the chance to participate in such an experience as this. I left the weekend with a great sense of appreciation of what God has done in my life and the purpose that has been set on my heart to live for Him in the environment I have been placed. After feeling rejuvenated and aligned with this mission, I leave this once-in-a-lifetime experience with deep friendships, a clearly defined purpose, and unforgettable memories.

My weekend at the WBCA Final Four coaches’ convention was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I did not go into the weekend expecting anything, I just went and embraced every opportunity and tried to live in every moment. With it being my first experience, it unfolded in a way that I could not have imagined. I met so many different coaches from many different teams from all over the country from every level of collegiate basketball. I connected with a lot of great individuals and learned from some of the nation’s greatest coaches and former players. I loved every on-court session that I attended that was presented to us. I also enjoyed the roundtable talks along with the knowledge we gained from well-known speakers. One of my favorite parts of the convention was the FCA service that we went to on Sunday morning which was followed by a Kay Yow breakfast event. The message from the service was fantastic and the Kay Yow event was special as well. I am already looking forward to going next year in Dallas. My experience was great, but I was not used to the weather in Minnesota. It was cold for me, but it is was something new to go along with my overall experience. I saw things in the city of Minneapolis that I have never seen before. Overall, my weekend with the WBCA and being with USG was one for the books. I most certainly saw God working a lot in my life during my weekend in Minneapolis. A year ago, I would not have imagined myself in the position I am in today. I also thank USG for allowing me to have that opportunity and to help me get there. My knowledge has grown, and I learned so much from that one weekend, and I will never forget for as long as I live.

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Noah Weiss and former Ministry Operations & Events Manager for Uncommon Sports Group, Seth Ralston, sit down to discuss the NABC Convention in New Orleans and the WBCA Convention in Minneapolis, as well as the Easter holiday and their reflections on the resurrection of Christ. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

It was exactly one year ago to the day that I returned from a three-month sabbatical. USG’s Board of Directors graciously afforded me the opportunity from late January until early April of 2021 to spend 10 weeks completely “off the grid” in Cartagena, Colombia. It was 10 full weeks of zero social media, zero work-related email, zero Netflix, etc. I turned off my phone completely, and the only communication I had with the “outside world” was through a weekly check-in with a coach, and my parents. Below is my journal entry to God from April 8th, 2021 as I concluded that time of solitude chronicling some of the things I was most grateful for, along with my three biggest takeaways from the sabbatical. “Father, I conclude my time in Colombia today GRATEFUL. This sabbatical has not gone like I expected in terms of 'productiveness', but it has been everything I have needed. I am grateful for: How You have revealed Your goodness to me. How You have revealed Your desire for Union with me. How You have reiterated You are the fulfillment of the Scriptures to me Revealing my identity as CHOSEN. Chosen by You. Not by any merit, but Chosen nonetheless. Chosen to have the makeup that I have. Chosen to start MOAM and now lead USG. Chosen to be Simon's uncle. Chosen to be Jenny, Liz, and Nick's brother. Chosen to have a passion for Significance. Chosen to be single at 31 so that I might experience 2.5 months of complete solitude with You. Chosen to fear You, and greatly desire to honor You. Chosen. Chosen. Chosen. The incredible experiences You have provided me these last 10 years of my life. 10 years ago, I could have never predicted or dreamed that You would lead me into all that You have led me into.. Virginia Tech, Auburn, Starting MOAM, leading me to Grace Church, incredible mentors. I cannot even imagine what You are capable of leading me into in these next ten years. The friends and family I have awaiting me back in Minnesota. The reality that there is nothing I need to earn or prove here on earth. I am completely free and eternally secure. There is literally nothing that can happen to me here on earth outside of Your perfect plan. Even if I am killed suddenly, it means I get to be with You. I have the privilege of giving up that which I cannot keep for that which I cannot lose. The joy and peace Your Spirit continues to renew inside of me. Even though I was definitely burnt out going into this sabbatical, I never lost joy and peace in the work You have continued to allow me to do. You have given me so much victory over depression & anxiety. The ways You continuously draw me near to You. The hope I have to find a spouse (UPDATE: met my now fiancé’ approximately two months later). The growing desire I am experiencing to read Your Word and learn more about You. The good health of my loved ones. The top three faith items I will takeaway from my time in Colombia are: 1) Your goodness. I've long found it easy to worship You because of Your 'grandness', in recent years especially, but You have revealed the neglect I've often had towards Your goodness. Subconsciously, I would admit my notion of You would frequently be that You are disappointed in me, and that I am in debt to You. The following items helped me truly comprehend in an entirely new way how Your goodness has always been true. The way You describe Your own character in Ex. 34:6 "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful & gracious, slow to anger, & abounding in steadfast love, and faithfulness," Seeing how You so often respond to the cries of Your people with such patience, gentleness, and compassion. Especially in Nu. 11 & 14:20, 2 Kgs. 20. The revealing of Yourself as 'gentle & lowly' in Mt 11:29 Slow to anger. Patient. Gentle. Lowly. Words I have long been too slow to equate with You. 2) How much You desire UNION with me. I was made for Union with You. To walk step by step with Your Spirit that is IN ME. Mk 16:20 - as the disciples went out, "..the Lord worked WITH them.." Your invite in Mt 11:28-30 - .."take my yoke upon you.." hitch yourself to ME & walk with ME! 3) You are the fulfillment of the Scriptures! I have enjoyed the opportunity to press into really deep questions and challenges like how and why would a good God allow hell to exist, how does Jesus dying equal salvation for me, etc. I have found answers for many items, but ultimately my finite mind will never fully comprehend how, and why God does all that He does. But in Your grace, You have at least made extremely clear in the Bible that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Jesus accomplished exactly what You said must, and will happen. And the fulfillment of these Scriptures equaling salvation is something Jesus Himself makes crystal clear (esp in Lk 24:44-49).

Have you ever questioned why the God of the Bible, who is all-powerful and all-good, would allow evil and suffering into the world He created? You are certainly not alone in asking this question. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Christian apologist and the Founder of Embrace the Truth Ministries, Abdu Murray, unpacks the Biblical response to this question and the deeper meaning behind human suffering. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Uncommon Sports Group (USG) had the pleasure of attending the 1st annual Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS) Trade Show in West Palm Beach, Florida March 19th-20th. These meetings were held in advance of the annual NFL Owners’ Meetings. The weekend event kicked off with a Members & Vendors Reception at Copper Blues Pub & Kitchen on Saturday evening. This social event was sponsored by Xtech, Riddell, Dragon Seats, and USG’s longtime partner Texon. Sunday’s tradeshow included 40 football equipment vendors, and was attended by over 100 NFL Equipment Managers. USG is thankful to have nearly 90% of NFL teams supporting our Clean Out For A Cause® program that helps fund all of our programs and scholarships. Additionally, USG has had several NFL Equipment Managers participate in our USG Academy and/or Weekly Equipment Manager Book Studies hosted by USG’s Director of Donor Relations, Josh Meyer and University of Michigan Assistant Equipment Manager, Jalen Stone.

The post-modern era has brought about various challenges in the church, but none have been as pervasive and damaging as progressive Christianity. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Christian apologist and author of the book Another Gospel, Alisa Childers, shares her experience with progressive Christianity, what it is, and the negative impacts it is having in churches across the world. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

From the moment I first made a connection with USG, then Managers on a Mission at the time, I knew this was something special. The initial call I had with Seth was so rich, he was not only interested to learn more about me personally and professionally, but specifically about my spiritual journey and growth. He connected me with Mikey, who he thought would be able to better understand more closely my career aspirations as well as my background being an international student. I must admit I'm thankful for that. Mikey has been such a big help for me as a friend and brother in Christ. He has called, texted, emailed to check in, catch up, and just see how he could help, even if it was to just pray. For that, I am more than grateful. His genuineness is evident in all that he does in speech and deed. He goes above and beyond to make sure that I am good whenever we speak and almost always has a new resource or connection for me to tap into each time we talk. His commitment to being a servant of the kingdom shines through his personality and it often challenges me to be a better Christian. I remember specifically during my USG experience in Minnesota when we did our outreach mission. The passion in his prayers and his willingness to sacrifice and make time to "seek and save" was so profound.