CAJ Insights: An Interview with Coach Craig Eby
Recently, Jared Johnson sat down with Coach Eby to talk about how CAJ athletics teaches students valuable lessons about teamwork and serving others.
JJ: How is CAJ’s athletic department serving to advance the school’s mission of equipping students to serve Japan and the world for Christ? Specifically, how is it doing so by developing responsible learners, discerning thinkers, productive collaborators, effective communicators and faithful caretakers?
CE: For the most part, the learning takes place daily in our athletic practices. We’re learning and applying new skills every day. Sometimes, it’s review to make sure we understand. It doesn’t make any difference if it’s volleyball, basketball, wrestling, soccer or one of the other sports, but in practices, I think we see this happening every day.
That’s what coaches are really doing; they’re not just teaching skills, but they’re also helping athletes realize how they can be more physically fit or increasing their stamina, perhaps in the offseason.
As far as thinkers, I think the athletic field or court is where a lot of this takes place. A lot of the time it’s thinking on the spur of the moment. For example, “What do I do when they double team me in basketball? I’ve got to pass to somebody who’s open." I’ve got to be thinking about how to solve a problem.
A lot of the time, it’s not a matter of having a couple minutes to think about [a decision]. It’s just *snaps fingers* like that. The more we practice, the better we are at responding immediately by thinking how we can solve our problems.
The collaboration especially shows up in our team sports. It can still take place in individual sports, but especially in team sports. Basically, we’re working together. If you can’t work together, you’re not going to have much success.
Jesus put it that way when he said [in Mark 9:40], “If they’re not against us, they’re for us.” He was saying that we shouldn’t be putting people down when they’re trying to do something in His name. We need to learn to work together, and I think that’s what he meant when He told us to love each other. Other people ought to be able to see that, and as a result, the way you work together makes a big impact on other people.
The collaboration aspect also shows up in the way we work together with the CAJ fine arts department. Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of different people from different schools say, “man, how can you work so well with them?” I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we have a lot of athletes who participate in fine arts, so we appreciate being able to have them on our teams and we know that the fine arts department appreciates having them participate in fine arts. So we work together to try to make things happen.
Years ago, when [choir director] Martie Tarter was here, it really came to light in her life when her son started to play soccer and was also involved with fine arts. All of a sudden, she started getting an interest in attending sports events to watch what was happening, not just for her son but for the other people in her music groups.
In team sports, communication is really a big thing. Especially when you’re talking about a defense in soccer or basketball, you’ve got to communicate. If you don’t communicate, you’re not going to do a very good job.
In the individual sports, communication shows up as well because of the idea of encouragement. It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s the top runner or one of the last ones, the encouragement is key in helping athletes keep on going.
I think that’s important in our Christian life as well to give that encouragement of “don’t worry, it’ll pass” or “keep your eyes on the goal.”
And lastly, as coaches, we want to instill in our athletes the importance of taking care of the bodies that God has loaned us here on Earth. Scripture says we are not our own; our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are to glorify God with our bodies.
JJ: Is there a Bible verse (or Bible verses) that you feel applies to the athletic department’s role in advancing CAJ’s mission?
CE: There are two that are favorites for me that are related to athletics. One is 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where Paul tells us, “Train yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise both for the present and for the life to come.”
And as a cross country and track coach for a long time, another one that stands out is Hebrews 12:1-2. “Since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
Those verses are some that I constantly come back to every year. I really like them.
JJ: Have you learned or realized any specific lessons throughout your years working in the athletic department?
CE: One of the things I’ve learned is that it doesn’t make any difference what level kids are at, whether they are a top athlete or one who’s not [quite as gifted], you can have a big impact on them. Seeing them improve is a really good thing.
They have a thrill in seeing improvement from themselves. For some people, it might just be a little bit of improvement, and they’re thinking, “Wow, this is really good.” And for other people, it may be a bigger improvement, but the fact is that each of them mature at different levels. All of them, though, can get a lot of joy out of participating in athletics and participating as a team for a common goal.
JJ: What is your favorite part about your work at CAJ?
CE: One of the things is having a group of staff with a common goal. I don’t see them all the time, but when we connect, we realize we have a common goal and it’s so easy to work with everybody here.
The other thing is that even though a lot of my work is sort of behind the scenes as athletic director, I like being able to interact with kids. A lot of people move on to something else where they end up in an office and hardly see the kids at all, but I’m still sort of rubbing shoulders with them all the time.
About Coach Eby
Craig Eby is in his 40th year working at CAJ. He has been the school's athletic director since the fall of 1985. He currently teaches elementary PE and coaches cross country, girls' basketball and track and field. During his time at CAJ, though, he has served as a dorm parent and has taught PE to all age levels, as well as biology, geometry, middle school science.
Craig and his wife, Rachel, had four children attend CAJ: Linnea, Caleb, Victor and Ethan. His main hobby used to be running, but he says "my knees don't allow that anymore." He also enjoys swimming, kayaking, watching old movies, and enjoys reading mystery and Western novels.
Recently, Jared Johnson sat down with Coach Eby to talk about how CAJ athletics teaches students valuable lessons about teamwork and serving others.
JJ: How is CAJ’s athletic department serving to advance the school’s mission of equipping students to serve Japan and the world for Christ? Specifically, how is it doing so by developing responsible learners, discerning thinkers, productive collaborators, effective communicators and faithful caretakers?
CE: For the most part, the learning takes place daily in our athletic practices. We’re learning and applying new skills every day. Sometimes, it’s review to make sure we understand. It doesn’t make any difference if it’s volleyball, basketball, wrestling, soccer or one of the other sports, but in practices, I think we see this happening every day.
That’s what coaches are really doing; they’re not just teaching skills, but they’re also helping athletes realize how they can be more physically fit or increasing their stamina, perhaps in the offseason.
As far as thinkers, I think the athletic field or court is where a lot of this takes place. A lot of the time it’s thinking on the spur of the moment. For example, “What do I do when they double team me in basketball? I’ve got to pass to somebody who’s open." I’ve got to be thinking about how to solve a problem.
A lot of the time, it’s not a matter of having a couple minutes to think about [a decision]. It’s just *snaps fingers* like that. The more we practice, the better we are at responding immediately by thinking how we can solve our problems.
The collaboration especially shows up in our team sports. It can still take place in individual sports, but especially in team sports. Basically, we’re working together. If you can’t work together, you’re not going to have much success.
Jesus put it that way when he said [in Mark 9:40], “If they’re not against us, they’re for us.” He was saying that we shouldn’t be putting people down when they’re trying to do something in His name. We need to learn to work together, and I think that’s what he meant when He told us to love each other. Other people ought to be able to see that, and as a result, the way you work together makes a big impact on other people.
The collaboration aspect also shows up in the way we work together with the CAJ fine arts department. Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of different people from different schools say, “man, how can you work so well with them?” I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we have a lot of athletes who participate in fine arts, so we appreciate being able to have them on our teams and we know that the fine arts department appreciates having them participate in fine arts. So we work together to try to make things happen.
Years ago, when [choir director] Martie Tarter was here, it really came to light in her life when her son started to play soccer and was also involved with fine arts. All of a sudden, she started getting an interest in attending sports events to watch what was happening, not just for her son but for the other people in her music groups.
In team sports, communication is really a big thing. Especially when you’re talking about a defense in soccer or basketball, you’ve got to communicate. If you don’t communicate, you’re not going to do a very good job.
In the individual sports, communication shows up as well because of the idea of encouragement. It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s the top runner or one of the last ones, the encouragement is key in helping athletes keep on going.
I think that’s important in our Christian life as well to give that encouragement of “don’t worry, it’ll pass” or “keep your eyes on the goal.”
And lastly, as coaches, we want to instill in our athletes the importance of taking care of the bodies that God has loaned us here on Earth. Scripture says we are not our own; our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are to glorify God with our bodies.
JJ: Is there a Bible verse (or Bible verses) that you feel applies to the athletic department’s role in advancing CAJ’s mission?
CE: There are two that are favorites for me that are related to athletics. One is 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where Paul tells us, “Train yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise both for the present and for the life to come.”
And as a cross country and track coach for a long time, another one that stands out is Hebrews 12:1-2. “Since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
Those verses are some that I constantly come back to every year. I really like them.
JJ: Have you learned or realized any specific lessons throughout your years working in the athletic department?
CE: One of the things I’ve learned is that it doesn’t make any difference what level kids are at, whether they are a top athlete or one who’s not [quite as gifted], you can have a big impact on them. Seeing them improve is a really good thing.
They have a thrill in seeing improvement from themselves. For some people, it might just be a little bit of improvement, and they’re thinking, “Wow, this is really good.” And for other people, it may be a bigger improvement, but the fact is that each of them mature at different levels. All of them, though, can get a lot of joy out of participating in athletics and participating as a team for a common goal.
JJ: What is your favorite part about your work at CAJ?
CE: One of the things is having a group of staff with a common goal. I don’t see them all the time, but when we connect, we realize we have a common goal and it’s so easy to work with everybody here.
The other thing is that even though a lot of my work is sort of behind the scenes as athletic director, I like being able to interact with kids. A lot of people move on to something else where they end up in an office and hardly see the kids at all, but I’m still sort of rubbing shoulders with them all the time.
About Coach Eby
Craig Eby is in his 40th year working at CAJ. He has been the school's athletic director since the fall of 1985. He currently teaches elementary PE and coaches cross country, girls' basketball and track and field. During his time at CAJ, though, he has served as a dorm parent and has taught PE to all age levels, as well as biology, geometry, middle school science.
Craig and his wife, Rachel, had four children attend CAJ: Linnea, Caleb, Victor and Ethan. His main hobby used to be running, but he says "my knees don't allow that anymore." He also enjoys swimming, kayaking, watching old movies, and enjoys reading mystery and Western novels.
