(Photo courtesy of Cedarville University/Patrick Estepp)
BONUS EPISODE
Patrick Estepp is beginning his 20th season of coaching college basketball at Cedarville University (NCAA Division II) in Cedarville, Ohio. His school is part of both the NCAA and the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association).
In 2019, Coach Estepp was named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year after helping lead his team to the NCCAA National Championship. He was named head coach of the team in 2008 and was a graduate of Cedarville in 1997.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Coach Estepp about his team’s motto of “fearing one,” preparing for the 2019-20 season, his testimony of faith in Christ, how he stays connected to God during a long season, and the challenges in coaching at a Christian organization.
Blessed day in our house. Thankful for God’s Grace poured out on our boys. 1 preaching his first message in a church, this morning, as a Sr in HS (reminds me of his uncle @5Estepps) and 1 leading worship this evening. “no greater joy” 3John 1:4 pic.twitter.com/C5IjeaEaGW
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST, FEATURING JORDAN STAAL
Jordan Staal is a veteran NHL center and captain of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Selected No. 2 overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, Staal has played more than 1,500 NHL games over 21 seasons, recording more than 800 points, and he’s won two Stanley Cups — one with Pittsburgh in 2009 and with Carolina in 2026. Last season, he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after leading Carolina to the championship.
Today on the podcast, Jordan Staal talks to Scott Linebrink about his strong faith in Jesus, winning his second Stanley Cup, sharing his faith in the NHL, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the importance of a Godly teammate in Jaccob Slavin.
San Antonio Spurs center Tarris Reed Jr. (10), Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
It’s been quite the week for Tarris Reed Jr.
Last Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs rookie center fulfilled a lifelong dream when he made his NBA debut in a 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, logging one minute of game action. He received a DNP on Friday, but on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks, he played seven minutes, grabbed three rebounds and scored the first two points of his career as his team won, 122-106.
However, basketball milestones weren’t the only things on Reed’s plate. The morning following his first bucket, the 23-year-old underwent the sacrament of baptism at Community Bible Church in San Antonio. Reed shared the joyous news with the world by posting a video on Instagram.
“It’s been on my heart for a while now to be baptized,” Reed captioned his post in part. “I wanted to publicly signify my union with Christ and what it means to walk in His grace, mercy, and NEWNESS OF LIFE!
“The Lord has placed me in a unique position to help others come to know Christ and experience His life changing power. To think that I went from wanting nothing to do with the Lord to now desiring to live for Him is something I never could have imagined. I never would have thought my life would look like this.
“I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy, and for placing me in a position where I can share the Gospel, reach others, and hopefully make an eternal impact on their lives. All glory to God!”
He frequently praises God in posts on Instagram, where he writes “Through Christ alone” in his bio. One such post came in the aftermath of losing the college basketball national championship game to Michigan as a member of the UConn Huskies last April. On the flight back to Storrs, Connecticut, Reed was inspired to speak at an Athletes in Action campus ministry meeting less than 24 hours after the final buzzer sounded in Indianapolis.
And not only did Reed speak about the pain of losing the title game, he also shared his testimony of faith in Jesus. It began as many do. He was introduced to Christ at a young age and frequently attended church, yet he lacked a deep personal relationship with Jesus. His passion was basketball, not the glory of God.
The St. Louis native drifted from the faith as a freshman at Michigan in 2022-23, the very same program that would defeat him on the biggest stage three years later. But a convicting conversation with his strength and conditioning coach led him to truly and intentionally begin reading the Bible, starting with the Book of Matthew.
“It was my first time really learning about Jesus — who He was, how He walked, how He taught, who He helped,” Reed said in his speech. “… From there, that fire was lit. I started to understand who Jesus was and really build a relationship. It put everything into perspective — not making basketball an idol, but seeing it as worship.”
Reed also played the 2023-24 season at Michigan before transferring to UConn, where he blossomed, winning Big East Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 and being named first-team All-Big East in 2026. He was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and immediately traded to the Spurs.
Reed has continued to testify to his faith in Christ on social media and elsewhere during his short time in the NBA, a practice he began while still in college. Amid the pain and disappointment of losing the national championship game, Reed praised the Lord during his postgame press conference.
“I’m filled with gratitude just looking around, just so thankful for it all,” he said on the podcast. “It’s crazy how I’m at my last year, going into my last semester, and now I’m realizing, ‘Wow, look at the Lord. Look what the Lord has blessed me with.’ I wish I could have known this in my freshman year. … Be grateful for it, man, because this is it for me.”
Later in the podcast, he talked about being born again in Christ.
“Jesus just wiped my eyes clean,” he said. “I got to see the world through a whole new lens. That’s really where my journey began. That’s where the seed — my whole life — just grew and it started to blossom from there.”
Reed is now baptized, playing with gratitude for who Jesus is, and worshiping Him with his basketball abilities. Secure in his union with Christ, Reed will continue to try to carve out minutes for himself and help the Spurs in their quest to return to the NBA Finals.
Next up, San Antonio hosts the Sacramento Kings (0-3) on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST, FEATURING RYAN JOHANSEN
Ryan Johansen played 13 seasons in the NHL, spanning from 2011 through 2024. He was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010 and made his NHL debut in 2011. After five seasons with the Blue Jackets, he was traded to the Nashville Predators and helped them to their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2017. After seven seasons with Nashville, he was traded to Colorado in 2023 and spent one season with the Avalanche. He officially announced his retirement in March 2026 after a 905-game career.
Today on the podcast, Ryan Johansen joins former NHL player Nate Prosser for a conversation on faith, hockey and marriage. Ryan shares his incredible story of coming to faith in Jesus and why it’s never too late to give your life over to God.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST, FEATURING JOSH LINDBLOM & SCOTT LINEBRINK
On today’s Sports Spectrum podcast, former MLB pitchers Josh Lindblom and Scott Linebrink discuss the topic of identity and finding our purpose and worth outside of sports.
