Episode 41: Coach Donnie Bostwick- Heads Men's Basketball Coach Oklahoma Wesleyan NCCAA National Coach of the Year (2010, 2013)

  Bostwick’s first head coaching position was at Vinita High School where in his second season led the Hornets to the State Championship game. After returning to JBU as an assistant coach Bostwick helped guide the Eagles to the 2005 NAIA National Championship. In 2007 he took over as the head coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University where he led the Eagles to the 2009 NAIA DII National Championship, winning a NAIA DII record 39 consecutive games. Bostwick then spent 6 seasons at Southwestern Assemblies of God University where in 2013 he once again led his Lions to the National Championship Game.  Making Bostwick the only coach to ever lead programs to championship games as a high school coach, assistant college coach, and as head coach at both the NAIA DI and DII level.  Bostwick received National Coach of the Year Honors in 2009, 2010, & 2013. His 146-29 win-loss record at OKWU over his five seasons at the helm makes OKWU one of the most successful programs in the country.  He has coached over 12 All-Americans and 5 NAIA Players of the Year including the No. 1 and No. 3 All-Time Three-point Shooters in the History of College Basketball – Brandon Cole – 527 & Steve Briggs – 498 Bostwick has directed Basketball Camps all over the world including Alaska, Hawaii, the Himalayas of Bhutan to the jungles of Africa and all across the United States. He is a sought after Clinician Speaker who has spoken at the NCAA Final Four and for Glacier Coaching Clinics. He has worked for both Point Guard College and Northwest Basketball Camps, which are the two largest camps in the United States. This past season Bostwick returned to Oklahoma Wesleyan University and led his team back to the NAIA DII Sweet 16. Bostwick considers coaching a ministry and runs his program like a family.  “Our camps are provide excellent high level basketball skills training, but we also invest valuable time in teaching our campers how to include their faith in their game along with teaching the value of leadership, hard work and character.”  This past October, Bostwick was asked by a close coaching friend whom he had been blessed to pour into and influence spiritually the following question. “If you were going to start a new ministry, then what would it be?” They both knew the answer was to be an encourager to coaches and help them grow spiritually. From that conversation, Bostwick began praying and in his spirit was birthed “SPIRIT LED COACH”. The mission of the ministry is to both encourage and empower coaches. On March 3, Bostwick launched a movement called SLC3 which challenges coaches to take their walk with Christ to another level. He has a big vision for the future of the ministry, but understands it will take time and a move of the Spirit. The first step is a Christian Coaches Clinic July 19-21 called the SLC3 Experience. Go to www.spiritledcoach.com to learn more.   In addition to Coach Bostwick’s professional accolades, he considers his greatest success to be at home, where he and his wife of 25 years enjoy raising their four children and are thrilled to bring their family back to their Bartlesville home.   @Coach_Bostwick