Cardinals’ Courtright a Miami native

Coach baptized, grew up at Wayside Baptist

Feb 10, 2009
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor

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TAMPA (FBW)—Stepping of the plane and breathing in the Florida air, Arizona Cardinal’s Rick Courtright said he knew he was home.

A Miami native, Courtright, the assistant defensive backs coach, said coming “home” to Florida for his team to play in the Super Bowl is an incredibly special time for him.

“I love the game of football and this is the epitome of what you do in the game of football,” Courtright told Florida Baptist Witness.

Baptized at Wayside Baptist Church in Miami where he grew up in a Christian home, Courtright attended Miami Christian School. He later earned an undergraduate degree in physical education and health at Wheaton College in Illinois where he met his wife, Lois. They were married in 1984.

Courtright said along the way he’s had many opportunities to share his faith.

“As Christians we are expected to witness in whatever arena God puts us in,” Courtright said. “We are supposed to be witnesses both by our words, and also by our lives in whatever arenas God places us.

Courtright said on media day Jan. 27 he was surprised to be coaching with Arizona in its first Super Bowl. He has been with the Cardinals five years, longer than anybody else on the coaching staff. When former head coach Dennis Green was replaced by Ken Whisenhunt two years ago, most of Green’s staff was released, but Courtright was retained.

HOME Arizona Cardinals coach Rick Courtright, a Miami native, said as he stepped off the plane in Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII, he knew he had come home to Florida. Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

“I was taught our role is to stay true to God’s Word in difficult times,” Courtright said. “That was a very difficult time, but God had a plan for me here.”

About the high profile Kurt Warner has brought to the team on account of his Christian witness, Courtright said the organization as a whole is simply a microcosm of the world.

“We’ve got people who are very, very strong believers, all the way to those that don’t care for it,” Courtright said. “It’s just like being out in the world. We can share our beliefs, but it’s not like we’re starting off meetings or whatever with Bible studies or anything.”

As a coach and natural leader, Courtright, 48, said he is cognizant of one-on-one situations that occur in the course of a day when he’s asked his opinion when a player bumps into him coming out of the locker room.

“I’ve been asked about why I did or did not do certain things; and I just tell them [the players], and you know it’s very apparent that God is working in those situations,” Courtright said.

Arizona defensive line coach Ron Aikin said the Super Bowl has given him more time to think and pray.

“I wake up every morning with more time to pray and more time to listen. I want to be a better listener for what God says,” Aiken said. “He helps me keep my perspective this week and every week.”

A former college coach who was hired by Whisenhunt, Aikin said his main priority is impacting the young men he coaches for the Cardinals.

“This is my ministry here. I want to encourage people and try to help them with their faith. One thing Kurt Warner and [former Indianapolis Colts coach] Tony Dungy have shown, it’s OK to tell people you love Christ.”

Courtright also had good things to say about Dungy, who is retiring to Tampa.

Calling Dungy a “phenomenal man” and spiritual leader, Courtright said it’s also important for people to remember “how well he has done on the football field. He has been a very successful coach as well as a very, very faithful strong Christian.”

Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, during the playoffs, has received attention and praise for his work with Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and the team’s innovative offense—becoming one of the top prospects as an NFL head coach.

As the pressure has heightened, Haley said his faith has deepened.

“To me, my faith in Christ is so important to get through every day,” Haley told a group of reporters in response to a Baptist Press question at a Super Bowl media session.

“It keeps me from getting too high or too low. And as the [playoff] rounds go on, the highs and the lows are much more pronounced. Without God to lean on, I would be lost.”

Christ is “my rock in these times of stress and commotion,” Haley said.

Haley was a Dallas Cowboys coach before receiving the offer to join Arizona two years ago. While pleased with the promotion, he was even more thrilled in a spiritual sense when he met up with Warner, who’s always ready to witness for Christ, he said.

“I’ll just say I’m glad my paths crossed with Kurt. It’s been very good for my life to be with Kurt the past two years. He has helped me a lot of and I think we’ve helped each other.

“I’m just very fortunate to be with Kurt.”

[Baptist Press correspondent Art Stricklin contributed to this report.]

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