COACH, AUTHOR, & RECENT NFF LEGENDS AWARD RECIPIENT RONNIE GAGE TO BE FEATURED SPEAKER AT CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT FEBRUARY, 19, 2022
/
Coach and author Ronnie Gage, named one of the Top 100 Coaches in 100 Years of Texas High School Football, and the recent recipient of the Legends Award by the National Football Foundation's Gridiron Club of Dallas, will be a featured speaker at the Christian Educators Leadership Summit February 19, 2022, in Grapevine, TX. Pictured: Coach Ronnie Gage with his Legends Award. (Stephanie Gage Photo)
Critically-Acclaimed Author and Speaker, Coach Gage, Is Recent Recipient of the Legends Award, Presented by the National Football Foundation's Gridiron Club of Dallas
GRAPEVINE, Texas. (February 18, 2022) -Coach and author Ronnie Gage, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the state of Texas, will be a featured speaker at the Christian Educators Leadership Summit, to be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas.
Presented by the Teacher, Be Still organization and 121 Community Church, Coach Gage is featured among an inspiring roster of motivators, educators and spiritually-grounded leaders who comprise an impressive cadre of speakers for the event, including Rebecca Carrell, Michelle Nietert, and Rob Shields.
The event is open to all educators in every capacity and is intended to inspire, instruct, and help these teachers care for their own well-being and health. Coach Gage, who has spent a lifetime helping others reach their full potential mentally and physically, is eager for the opportunity to share his faith and experience.
“I am humbled to speak to such an honorable group of people. I have a passion for the title 'Coach,'" says Coach Gage. "For 42 years I was able to work through many highs and lows because of my faith and perseverance. I would simply like to help teachers identify their purpose, regain their passion for teaching, and help them understand they can change lives through their influence and the unique opportunity to work closely with our youth daily.“
Coach Gage's appearance at the Christian Educators Leadership Summit comes on the heels of receiving the prestigious Legends Award presented by the National Football Foundation's Gridiron Club of Dallas.
“I am honored to have received the Legends Award and to be recognized along with such a prestigious group of coaches," says Coach Gage. "I am especially proud of the award because in 2009, the first recipient of the award was my coach, mentor, and friend of 43 years, Neal Wilson. Any success I have had was built on the foundation Coach Wilson laid for me and I am happy to share this award with him.”
Heralded as among the best, the brightest, and the most unforgettable icons and legends in Texas High School football's illustrious history by the highly respected Texas football publication, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football (DCTF), Coach Gage's legacy becomes more and more storied and remarkable with each passing year.
Named one of the "Top 100 Coaches in 100 Years of Texas High School Football," during his 26 years of coaching, Coach Gage amassed an astonishing 187-107-8 record on his way to winning seven District Championships and two State Championships. He was recognized as the Texas Sportswriters Association’s Coach of the Year in 1993 and again in 1996, in addition to his being selected for the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.
Coach Gage adds to that legacy in his critically acclaimed book, The Life Coach: Small-Town Lessons on Faith, Family, and Football, which he co-wrote with author, motivational speaker, and NCAA record holder, Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II, and Alice Sullivan. Part inspirational memoir, part Texas football history, and part motivational guide for leaders—the book has been praised by such influential media outlets as Cornerstone TV's flagship show, Hope Today, Inspiration.org, CBN.com, Bill Martinez Live!(syndicated in 300+ U.S. markets), Sunday Night Live with Kim Weir on KSBJ, The Meeting House on Faith Radio, and many more.
For more information on Coach Gage, Dr. Thompson, and The Life Coach, visit 91kick.com or follow on Facebook (facebook.com/91kick or facebook.com/The-Life-Coach-109739473832583/), Instagram (instagram.com/91kick), or Twitter (@91kick or @RonnieRgage).
For tickets to the Christian Educators Leadership Summit, to be held at 121 Community Church, 2701 Ira E. Woods Ave., Grapevine, Texas, 76051, click here.
About The Life Coach:
One of the winningest high school football coaches in the state of Texas, Coach Ronnie Gage offers a wealth of insight to leaders and managers in his book, The Life Coach, co-written with Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II and Alice Sullivan. (Cover image courtesy of Clovercroft Publishing)
On November 14, 2009, Coach Ronnie Gage, then the head football coach at Austin College, watched from the sidelines as Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II kicked his way into the record books. At 61, Thompson became the oldest football player in NCAA history and the oldest NCAA football player to score a point when he kicked the PAT (Point After Touchdown) in the second quarter of the game between Austin College and Trinity University. While that kick made history and put tiny Austin College on the sports media map, the event was never designed to be a publicity stunt. In fact, Coach Gage didn’t even like Thompson at first, and assumed he was “a wacko with an agenda” for wanting to play college football at 60. But as the season wore on, Coach Gage realized Thompson’s heart was in the right place.
“We didn’t really develop a relationship until after the season was over,” says Thompson. “I didn’t presume because we were close in age that I could engage him in any topic other than football.
"The man is a legend in Texas football history, and it was important to me that my teammates see me treat him with the respect he deserved," Thompson continues. "He told me flat out that he was not giving me any special treatment. And I appreciated that. But I knew when I first got to know Coach Gage that we would do some things together.”
The Life Coach is the first result of their “post-kick” collaborations. A combination of sports memoir and inspirational leadership manual, The Life Coach delves into how to juggle the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of everyday life.
“Coach Gage is a quiet, humble guy, and his faith has been a big part of his life,” Thompson explains. “He’s gone through some of the worst things that life can throw at you, including the loss of his daughter to a brain tumor, and is still able to cling to the goodness of God.”
One of the winningest high school football coaches in the state of Texas, Ronnie Gage offers a wealth of insight to leaders, managers, educators, and parents in his new book, The Life Coach. (Sloan Photography)
About Coach Ronnie Gage:
A Texas football legend, Coach Ronnie Gage coached football in Texas for 42 years before retiring, compiling one of the most enviable winning records in state history. His accolades include three high school championship rings—two as a coach and one as an athletic director. He was the first coach in Texas to win a championship at the 5-A level in both Division 1 and Division 2. He was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor. He served as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association, an organization of over 18,000 members. He served on the board of directors and was selected to serve on the advisory board of the THSCA.
In 2004, Coach Gage was chosen as the Citizen of The Year for Lewisville, TX. He was voted as the District Coach of the Year seven times, Texas Sportswriters Coach of the Year two times, and Dallas All Sports Association Coach of the Year two times. He had his 1996 team recognized on a Cheerios Box and was chosen by Fox Sports as the Coach Who Makes a Difference in 1999. In 2017, he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in his hometown of Decatur, TX.
Coach Gage coached the Austin College football team from 2006 to 2009 and coached the 61-year-old placekicker Tom Thompson, who set two NCAA records.
Over 40 players who have played for Coach Gage are in the coaching profession today, including his son James and daughter Julianne, who are both teaching/coaching. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Stephanie for 43 years.
Coach Gage offers a wealth of insight to coaches, teachers, family members, or any professionals who aspire to be in a leadership role in his inspirational and motivational memoir, The Life Coach: Small-Town Lessons on Faith, Family, and Football (Clovercroft Publishing/Ingram Content Group), co-written with author, professor, researcher, motivational speaker, coach and NCAA record holder, Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II, and Alice Sullivan. The Life Coach offers readers sound life and leadership principles based on the individual effort and team-first mentality required for a successful football season—and a successful life.
NCAA record holder, author, motivational speaker, and respected researcher, Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II's latest book, The Life Coach, is a collaboration with former Austin College football coach Ronnie Gage and Alice Sullivan. (Photo: Roark Photography)
About Tom Thompson:
Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II, D.S.L., M.S., M.A., entered the health and fitness industry after a 20-year career in commercial real estate. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from LeTourneau University, a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree from Regent University, and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Austin College.
Thompson is an American-born Tae Kwon Do grandmaster, holding the rank of 10th-degree black belt, which few Tae Kwon Do practioners ever reach. His past martial arts achievements include founding the martial arts program at the famed Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas, sitting on the Board of Advisors of the American Council on Martial Arts, and founding his own style of Tae Kwon Do, called KI Il Do Kwan.
On November 14, 2009, Dr. Thompson kicked his way into the record books. At age 61, he became the oldest football player in NCAA history and the oldest NCAA football player to score a point when he kicked the PAT (Point After Touchdown) in the second quarter of the game between Austin College and Trinity University.
Thompson wrote his name in the record books, then went on to literally write the book on motivation for older adults who are approaching their golden years, as well as anyone seeking a career change, to seize their future with both hands.
Thompson detailed his remarkable accomplishments in his motivational and autobiographical book, Kick Start: A Story of Overcoming Life's Obstacles to Inspire You to Kick Start Your Future, which he co-wrote with Alice Sullivan (Carpenter's Son Publishing), and Get a Kick Out of Life: Expect the Best of Your Body, Mind, and Soul at Any Age, co-written with Christopher P. Neck, (Mastering Self Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence), along with Alice Sullivan (Kick Start).
Thompson, who is an active researcher in the fields of motivation and change, has also co-authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed academic journals, as well as the book Fit To Lead: The Proven 8-Week Solution for Shaping Up Your Body, Your Mind, and Your Career (St. Martin's Press), which he co-authored with Christopher P. Neck and Charles C. Manz (respected pioneers in the field of self-leadership, and co-authors of Mastering Self Leadership) and Tedd L. Mitchell (Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, former CEO of the Cooper Clinic, and former health editor for USA Weekend).
Thompson is also the Brand Ambassador for Evil Cowboy Hot Sauce, an heirloom Texas hot sauce company.
Thompson’s latest book is The Life Coach: Small-Town Lessons on Faith, Family, and Football, (Clovercroft Publishing/Ingram Content Group), which he co-authored with Texas football coaching legend Ronnie Gage and Alice Sullivan (Kick Start).
About the National Football Foundation: Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people.
They fulfill this mission in the following ways:
By inspiring young people to excellence: holding up the greatest players and coaches in the history of the game as role models and enshrining them and their achievements in the College Football Hall of Fame.
By exciting young people, and those who influence them, about the game: in particular, managing the College Football Hall of Fame in such a way as to dramatize the history, exhilaration and value of the game to an ever broadening audience of fans and potential fans.
By developing, managing and promoting model football programs, which further strengthen the educational and character building qualities of the game.
By honoring, publicizing and providing financial support to high school and college football players who represent our ideal of the scholar-athlete.
By continuing a grassroots movement, through local chapters, while involving football fans, coaches, educators, the media and former players in the implementation of the programs, which will fulfill our mission for America.
Through this mission, The Foundation serves not only youth, but the nation as well.
For more information, visit footballfoundation.org.
About Teacher, Be Still:
Teacher, Be Still was founded by a couple of everyday teachers, but is really a company on mission for all educators.
With over 20 years of combined experience in public, private, and homeschool education, Jill Miller and Jamie Harrison noticed one alarming trend across the board--educators are worn out, and many of them have no idea how to make their health and wellness a priority anymore. The mission of Teacher, Be Still is to encourage and inspire educators to not only make themselves a priority, but to realize that their value lies far beyond the walls of a classroom.
For more information, visit teacherbestill.com.
To schedule an interview, contact:
McCain & Co. Public Relations
Email: mccainprnews@mccainpr.com
Facebook: facebook.com/McCain&Co.PublicRelations
Twitter: @McCainPR
Phone: 615-262-1727
