(Kansas City, MO) – The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has opened up a national search for the position of National Director of FCA Wrestling. This highly-motivated and experienced leader will serve as the full-time professional administrator for the recently formed FCA Wrestling.

FCA Wrestling became the eighth national sports ministry for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Each of these FCA national sports ministries focuses on providing ministry to a community of people who are united around a particular sport by offering opportunities to serve athletes and coaches in that particular sport.

Last year, longtime wrestling leader Joe Boardwine served as the first National Director of FCA Wrestling, and successfully developed the foundation for the growth of this exciting new program. During his time as National Director, Joe built the momentum for FCA Wrestling and the next leader will be called to keep that momentum going. Boardwine resigned to accept the position as the head wrestling coach at Campbell University, a Div. I wrestling program in North Carolina.

Since the announcement of the plan to develop FCA Wrestling in September 2008, the organization has quickly established the foundation for this new ministry. Jeff Pratt was named Leadership Board Chairman for FCA Wrestling, and an impressive Leadership Board of wrestling leaders has stepped forward to help provide direction and support for FCA Wrestling. 

"This is a bigtime position for a bigtime leader who will make a bigtime impact on wrestling for a long time. This is a huge opportunity for somebody who is called to leadership," said Tim Johnson, FCA Vice President of the Midwest Region.

An FCA Wrestling National Director Search Team has been formed to help identify the best candidates for this important position. Serving on the Search Team are FCA Board members Mark Mestemacher and Rich Bender, along with Sean McNamara, who serves as FCA Vice President of Field Ministry and Vice President of Sports Specific Ministry.

FCA has set up a process for candidates to apply for this position, as well as for those within the wrestling community to suggest worthy individuals who should be considered for this opportunity. All of these resources have been posted online, to allow those interested in this opportunity to educate themselves about the process and to get involved if they believe that they have a calling to pursue this position.

Included in these resources is an FCA Wrestling National Director Information Packet, which outlines the specific FCA hiring process. Also provided with these resources is a Candidate Questionnaire, which all applicants will be asked to fill out as part of the hiring process. In addition, there is an online form which is posted where people may submit names of qualified individuals who FCA Wrestling should consider for this position.

Complete information on the National Director of FCA Wrestling Search is located at:
http://www.fcawrestling.org/nds

The national search has officially started. Candidates are encouraged to apply at this time. The position will be filled when the ideal candidate has been identified through the FCA hiring process. The FCA Wrestling Leadership Board is confident that the right person who can provide inspired leadership in this position will be identified and hired in a timely fashion.

Anybody with questions about this position or the process should contact Sean McNamara via phone at (800) 289-0909 or via e-mail at smcnamara@fca.org.

About FCA

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives... one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest Christian sports organization in the world. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.

The FCA Wrestling Leadership Board

- Jeff Pratt, Director of Student Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources
- Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director
- Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, World freestyle wrestling silver medalist
- Brandon Slay, National Freestyle Resident Coach for USA Wrestling, Olympic freestyle wrestling champion,
- Tim Johnson, FCA Vice President Midwest Region, national TV wrestling announcer
- Sean McNamara, FCA Vice President of Sport Specific Ministries
- Nate Carr, Head Wrestling Instructor for Prodigy Training and Fight Center, Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist
- John Peterson, Athletes In Action, Olympic freestyle gold medalist and Olympic freestyle silver medalist
- Dan Russell, Senior Pastor at Battleground Four-Square Church, four-time NCAA Division II wrestling champion
- Stan Zeamer, President and Owner of Utility / Keystone Trailer and Transport Auctions LLC, high school and college wrestling coach, Olympic Team Leader
- Mark Mestemacher, Officer of Ceres Consulting LLC, Edwardsville Wrestling Club coach
- Joe Slaughter, President and CEO of Herff Jones