The rigors of collegiate athletics have begun to be overwhelming, leading coaches to cut corners and bring in players who have character problems just so that they can win. There are the long recruiting trips that take coaches away from home and the season that stretches from Midnight Madness all the way through the month of March. Coaches are pressured to win now and win at all costs. The academic side of college athletics has been dismissed and parents are added pressure for coaches to deal with, as many of the parents expect their child to be the next superstar on the next level. Coaches either stand for that which is right or they decide to give in to the pressure and do whatever it takes to win and maintain job security.

So often, the character aspect of athletes is discussed in the media and now, we are beginning to have to call in to question the character of coaches as well. This issue’s spotlight is on Lorenzo Romar, the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Washington. He came to the school to lead the men’s basketball program back to national prominence and in the process, God has begun to do a great work through his life, affecting the lives of college students for Him. I spoke with Coach Romar recently, getting his insight on basketball and learning about his faith in Christ.

His Life

Lorenzo Romar was born in California and would attend the University of Washington and played basketball in college. After playing for five seasons in the NBA and playing for Athletes in Action, Romar felt led into coaching, a profession where God could use His servant to have an incredible impact on the lives of young men.

Q – When did you give your life to Christ?

“1983. September 10th.”

Q – How old were you?

“I was 25.”

Q – Can you tell me what led you to give your life to Christ?

“I was playing in the NBA at the time and after tearing the cartilage in my knee, I remember sitting at home and thinking, “What is a relationship with the Lord?” I was trying to have a relationship with the Lord by doing good deeds. I was one of those guys. I read the Scriptures and realized that I was not a Christian. My own good deeds wouldn’t get me to heaven. I wouldn’t have a relationship with the Lord that way. I read “unless one is born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.” That really peaked my interest. I didn’t think that was in the Bible. I did believe that the Bible was the Word of God and when I read that, one thing led to another and my wife and I became Christians, and asked Christ into our hearts.”

This revelation was no mistake. God wanted Coach Romar and his wife to be in a close relationship with Him because He knew what He had down the road for them. They were going to be pivotal pieces in the work of His kingdom and that one revelation was the beginning for what the Lord would do years down the road.

His Career

After his playing days were over, Lorenzo accepted a position as the assistant coach at UCLA, a school rich in tradition, seeking to reclaim its’ place at the top of the basketball world. In 1995, the UCLA Bruins would win the NCAA championship and Coach Romar would forever be recognized as one of the influential pieces of the championship as he had recruited and worked with many of the players.

Coach Romar would soon see the Lord open the door for him to become a head coach, as he accepted the position at Pepperdine University, then at St. Louis, before coming back to his alma mater to serve as the head coach. Coach Romar hit the ground running and in his third and fourth years at Washington, he led the Huskies to the Sweet Sixteen.

Q – How has your faith influenced your coaching career?

“I think it’s helped me with consistency. Although there will be highs and lows, it’s helped me to keep a proper perspective on it. It’s helped me keep a proper perspective on success and perceived failure.”

Q – How do you share your faith with your players? I know that you have to be careful in today’s world with being outspoken as a coach, so how do you do it?

“I think the most important thing is to live it in front of them every day, even when you mess up and when you make mistakes. They can see how you handle things when you’re wrong. Do you make excuses? Do you point a finger or do you admit that, “Hey, I blew it and I’m going to do everything in my power to correct it”? You can be a witness when you make mistakes as well. Aside from that, you always make sure that there’s an opportunity for them to have Bible Study if they would like to, but you don’t force it.”

Q – If you could change any rule in college basketball, what would it be?
“I think that it would be that you can go to the pros after two years rather than one.”

Q – What is the hardest part of coaching today?

“Dealing with kids that want everything right now. They want to go to the pros right away and from the seventh grade, they have been told how great they are. When someone doesn’t tell them that, they go on to the next person who will. There are a lot of people who want to have their hand involved but don’t necessarily give great advice. That is one and then dealing with unrealistic parents who do not see a team; they only see their kid.”

Coach Romar has been known to be an outstanding recruiter. As mentioned earlier, he helped recruit many of the players on the 1995 UCLA National Championship team and has brought in many great players to the University of Washington during his time there. I had one recruiting question that I wanted to get his perspective on as a man of faith and as a coach in a power conference with the constant pressure to win.

Q – Out on the recruiting trail, how much weight do you put in a recruit’s character?

“I think it’s very important. I’ve seen kids where maybe their character wasn’t what it needed to be and we backed off.”

Q – Really? I know a lot of times in today’s world, it’s more about how good of an athlete they are rather than what their character is like.

“I think that one side of that is the kid may have made mistakes and may be a little rough around the edges. Is he a con man or is he willing to accept the proper leadership and guidance and respond to it? That’s a big decision that you have to be able to make because if someone is a con man and their character’s not good, then they are never going to change, unless they develop a relationship with the Lord. Aside from that, when you have kids that make mistakes and say, “Hey, I’ve blown it. I don’t want to be like this anymore.” and you see that they are a little more receptive during the recruiting process, I think, sometimes, you can take a chance on those kinds of kids.”

Q – Do you believe that there is an East Coast bias in basketball?

“I don’t think that I would use the word bias, but I just think that because the games are on so late, they just don’t get to see enough players and teams out here like you would like them to.”

His Advice

Coach Romar has lived a life that many of us, especially those of us who were athletes at some point, would love to live. His advice can help us in our walk with God and can help our children if they ever decide to pursue college athletics in their lives.

Q – What advice would you give to young players would want to play at the collegiate level?

“Number one, get your academics in order so you can go to any school that you would like to go to. The second thing would be to passionately work to be the best player that you can be.”

Q – What is your favorite Bible passage and why?

“Jeremiah 9:23-24. I think it keeps everything in perspective. No matter what you accomplish, no matter what you do, it’s because God has given you the ability and allowed it to happen. There is no way to boast because you didn’t do it on your own. One thing you can boast about is that you know God and that’s something to be proud of.”

Q – When was the time in your life when you felt closest to God?

“I’d say it’s ongoing. But initially, when you first realize how much God loves you, you begin to understand that, and that would probably be it for me.

We can all pull for Coach Romar to succeed on the court as well as in the lives of the student athletes who play for him. He stands for what he believes in because he understands and values the faith that he has and the love that the Almighty God has shown to him. He teaches men how to better play the game of basketball, showing them how to get the most out of their talent. He preaches with his life, leading the players to find the most in life through the Word of God and the presence of Christ in their lives. His testimony doesn’t stop at the doorway of the church; it is there that it is only beginning.

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