http://espn.go.com/ncw/blog/_/name/ncwexperts/id/6241585/hand-delivers-big-game-oklahoma.

Along with three other alumni, Hand shared how Liberty prepared her academically, spiritually, and athletically for college in Liberty Life’s winter issue. To read the story, visit http://libertylife.libertychristian.com/index.php/2010/12/10/alumni-play-at-big-12/.

To read more of Hand’s athletic accomplishments, visit http://www.soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/hand_whitney00.html.

Coach Rick Gailey enrolled at Liberty right behind the co-founders’ children, Nancy and Rocky Haire. 

When he graduated in 1993, Liberty had only four sports for boys, and Gailey lettered in all four of them. After UNT, he returned to his high school alma mater. He aims to be a great coach and a good role model. 

He coaches football and track and said, “I hope to instill in these young men the Christian values they will need to be godly husbands and fathers – that is what our society needs more than anything.” 

Matt Bowles, Middle School youth pastor, played football and ran track at Liberty before graduating in 2000. After playing football at Howard Payne, graduating, and being a camp director at Sky Ranch for two years, he received a phone call from Dr. Haire, asking him to be the Middle School youth pastor. 

“I never intended to be a coach, but with my dad, Mark Bowles, being the athletic director, I began coaching eighth grade football as an assistant coach,” he said. 

Now as the wide receiver coach for the varsity team, Bowles said coaching gives him more opportunities to impact the students. 

He said, “Some coaches coach because they love the sport; I coach because I love the kids.” 

In coaching, Bowles said Liberty’s coaches demand excellence. He referenced Colossians 3:23-24 that says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart … .” 

He added, “We teach the students to practice for the Lord, play for the Lord, work at their grades for the Lord, honor their parents for the Lord, and do everything with excellence for the Lord.” 

Yet he said winning is not everything. If the students play their best, that is what the coaches are after. But no matter the game schedule, if the students play their best, Bowles said Liberty has a great opportunity to win games. 

Sarah Burke, who graduated in 2002, played volleyball and was a cheerleader before going to Texas A&M. 

After ministering overseas for a few years after graduating from college, she came back to the Dallas area and felt drawn to teaching. After calling Coach Price, she found herself touring the new Argyle campus several days later. 

“I love being back,” Burke said. “It’s like coming home. I felt so welcomed and so loved. It really is an amazing thing to work with and learn from teachers and coaches who had a huge impact on me when I was a student.” 

Burke says she wants the girls she coaches on the cheerleading squad to look back on their years at Liberty and “remember how hard they worked, how much fun they had, and how they grew in their relationship with the Lord. 

“Servant leadership is something we talk about often. My hope is that I can be a source of encouragement and love as we tackle new challenges together and learn to trust the Lord in new ways. A successful squad to me is one that not only gets the crowd cheering and puts on amazing performances – true success is a squad that serves the Lord and its school out of loving hearts.” 

Alicia Insinna coaches cross country and track, and graduated from Liberty in 2002. At Liberty, she ran cross country and track, was on the dance team, and played volleyball, basketball, and softball. At Dallas Baptist University, she ran cross country and indoor track.  

Insinna said, “I came back to Liberty because I loved the family of teachers and coaches. The impact they made on my life when I was a student athlete was incredible. 

“I know the Lord placed me here for His purpose, which is to give back the most precious thing that was given to me – unconditional love, support, encouragement, and direction.  

“As a coach, I want to help build confidence. I want the players to learn what it means to be a part of a team, and the pride and sacrifice involved. I want them to know that whether they meet their goals or not, it’s the effort and their hearts’ condition that really create success. I want them to feel loved and accepted. Most of all, I want them to learn about Jesus and know they are created in His likeness. They are His creation and His child. No matter what life throws their way, they can do all things with Him by their side.” 

Tyler Curbo, who graduated from Liberty in 2005, is the cross country head coach. While at Liberty, he participated in football, cross country, basketball, swimming, and track. 

Curbo said that as a student, he loved Liberty and always hoped he could come back to teach and coach. 

He said, “Liberty had such a profound impact on me in so many areas of life, including spiritually, athletically, academically, and it continues to bless me beyond my imagination. 

“My hope and goal as a coach is to continue the tradition of Liberty athletics by training and encouraging Warriors to excellence. As the athletes train, my hope is that they will learn the essential skills of self-discipline, unselfishness, and leadership that will go with them throughout the rest of their lives. I hope these skills will be a solid foundation in which to build their personal walk with Christ, future marriage, job, and relationship with others. Coach Bowles, Coach Price, Coach Vest, Coach Fitzhugh, Coach Scofield and so many others made this hope their priority. I hope that I can continue that tradition and impact athletes in the same way they impacted me.” 

Kinny Fain, who coaches basketball at Liberty, graduated in 2004. At Liberty, he played basketball and ran cross country, and played basketball at Abilene Christian University.  

Fain said that when his dad went to Iraq, he returned from Abilene, started coming to practice, and was hired by Coach Scofield to coach Middle School basketball the following year. 

“I really enjoy working here,” Fain said. “There are so many great people on staff and so many wonderful children. 

“As a coach, I do my best to show the teammates how Christ lived by the way I interact with them.” 

Fain said he wants students to learn how to win people to God by living for Him, not just learning how to win games. 

Brittany Bird graduated from Liberty in 2008 and played basketball, softball, track, and tennis. 

Bird said she came back to Liberty because Coach Burroughs needed a coach and thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to coach alongside him and be back home. 

“I feel very blessed to be a coach here,” said Bird. “I know I have a lot to learn, and I am so glad it is in an environment like Liberty where Christ is first. 

Bird said that as a coach, she wants to teach the fundamentals of basketball to the students, but most importantly, she wants to share the love of Christ with them and help them understand that their relationship with Him is pre-eminent. 

Other alumni coaches include Zak Bowles, Justin Else, and Brandon Grady. Liberty is grateful for its coaches who all go beyond coaching the skills of the game. As the great basketball coach John Wooden said – coach men, not basketball – Liberty’s coaches see the value and spirit of the individual, and they encourage excellence and greatness in every one. Alumni coaches want to instill that in the athletes, just like it was instilled in them when they were students at Liberty.

“Watching the crew work together to tell one common story fascinated me. It was a team effort, where everyone united around a common goal. Since an early age, I enjoyed storytelling, but it wasn’t until this day that I found filmmaking would be my medium to tell such stories,” Goff said. 

As a junior at Southern California’s Biola University studying cinema, media arts, and Bible, Goff is already an award-winning filmmaker and is raising funds for his next film.  

“I am now in the thick of pre-production on my new short film, ‘Summer,’ which set in the year 1976, a time of love, youth, and spinning skate wheels,” he said. “The film will tell the story of love in its seasons and how moments in life fade away in the blink of an eye.” 

“This coming of age story will be no small feat. We have assembled an incredible crew of 40 individuals. We will shoot the film on the RED ONE camera, the most advanced digital camera in the film industry,” Goff said. In 2009, director Peter Jackson shot his acclaimed film starring Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg in “The Lovely Bones” on the same camera, and it was also used in actor Matt Damon’s most recent films, “Green Zone” and “The Informant!” 

Goff said that “Summer” will feature a large cast of professional actors from Los Angeles. 

“Additionally, we will need upwards of 70 extras. Period specific costumes and props will be required to recreate this 1970s setting. All of these things add up to a budget totaling $10,000,” he said. “We are currently raising money to bring this story to life through a variety of means.” 

Tax deductible donations can be sent to: 13800 Biola Avenue, Box 1002, La Mirada, CA, 90639. Write “Summer – Film Project” in the memo line. 

Goff explained that 10 years ago, someone his age could have only dreamed of making a film because of the high cost of production. 

He said that with technology progressing rapidly, he had the opportunity to make two films, the first of which was a documentary called “The Other War,” which was the story of four orphans living in present day Uganda. Last summer, this film won the Gold Crown Award for Best Student Film at the International Christian Visual Media Conference in Denver, Colo. 

This past fall, Goff wrote and directed his first narrative short film, “Burden of Proof.” 

“Set in 1959, ‘Burden of Proof’ is the story of a fiery young attorney and the night before the biggest trial of his career, one which will change his life forever,” Goff said. 

Recently, “Burden of Proof” was nominated for the Crown Awards. Following its premiere this fall, the film will be submitted to more than 20 festivals around the world, including Sundance.  

“In the grand scheme of things, I hope to write and direct major motion pictures. Hollywood is a wonderful place filled with extraordinary artists and an incredible place for me to have a positive impact,” Goff said. 

He added, “I’m fascinated by the past. The world we live in now is the way it is because of those who lived in the past. These are the stories that intrigue me. American history provides an incredible backdrop for my generation of filmmakers, and we are fortunate to live in a time where technology is providing new means for us to tell stories.” 

As a Liberty graduate of 2008, Goff said that Liberty helped prepare him for college and beyond. 

He said, “The thoughtful teaching and classes made college an easy transition for me. Liberty provided a personalized setting for learning where I made incredible friendships, and learned a great amount about life, the Lord, and my role in this world.” 

Liberty is proud to have Goff as a graduate and will be eager to see the impact Goff makes in the world in the years to come. 

Anyone interested in helping with “Summer” or learning more about Goff’s work can also contact him directly at nolan.w.goff@gmail.com

Kyle Watson

Liberty Alumnus Kyle Watson, ’06, has been accepted to Harvard Law School, and his goal is to get both an MBA from Harvard Business School and a law degree from Harvard Law School. 

“It is a real testimony to Liberty; my kids were sent to college prepared, which was one of the reasons we came to Liberty when both of our boys entered kindergarten,” said Vickie Watson, Kyle’s mother. 

“Liberty partnered with us to train up our kids academically and especially spiritually,” Vickie said. “They helped make our boys a success in college and out. 

“We love Liberty and recommend the school to anyone who asks.” 

She went on to say that God’s hand has been in everything and that His favor on Kyle has been evident. 

Kyle graduates this spring with a degree in finance and aviation from the University of Oklahoma, where his younger brother, Kevin, also attends as a freshman. Kevin graduated from Liberty in the spring of 2009. 

“Kyle has worked and studied hard, and he has earned this — he’s going to Harvard!” she said.

Kevin Watson