This story appears in FCA Magazine’s July/August 2015 issue. Subscribe today!
Hometown:
San Diego, Calif.
Family:
Wife: Cynthia
Children: Elliott, Todd, Terrance & Tiffany
Coaching Career:
• Oakland Athletics (2007-present)
• San Diego Padres (1988-2006)
Playing Career:
• Played 11 seasons of professional baseball from 1977-87, including parts of four seasons in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Chi-cago White Sox and Houston Astros
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths." – Proverbs 3:5-6
As the first base coach for the Oakland Athletics, Tye Waller fills himself with Scripture to ensure his steps closely follow those of Jesus. Despite his team's recent success, Waller believes that God has more in front of him today than he’s experienced in his seasoned baseball career.
FCA: How has your faith grown through baseball?
TW: Baseball has been a tremendous environment for God to reveal Himself in my life. I’ve gotten to know the Lord through the sport. Before I got saved, I used to do the things everybody else did, and I called myself a Christian. I gave them the wrong example of the way a Christian should live their life. Now I want to do it right. My focus is to live each day knowing that Christ is my source, and no matter what I’m going through, He’s going to deliver me from adversity. If I hold Him as my Rock, others will see God in me, and He will be glorified because of my steady attitude.
FCA: How do you keep yourself grounded in the whirlwind of professional baseball?
TW: Having a ministry in your life is going to open your eyes to what is right for you. People can put you on a pedestal, especially in the sports world, but our souls are what’s at stake in the eyes of God. I need to have something to do with ministry or His Word, whether it’s music, a study or a podcast. I continue to seek Him, and He gives me a road map for His path. I really believe God’s always trying to take us somewhere, no matter how long we live or what’s going on, so that He can be glorified.
FCA: How do you approach your position with the Athletics?
TW: I have a responsibility to coach these players to become the best they can be. It’s important that I have an understanding of the players and our team’s philosophy and approach. I need to be good at what I do. In a lot of ways I look at it as ministry—building relationships. My mindset is to continue to grow as a coach. In doing so, my faith will show up along the way, and hopefully they’ll see Christ in my life.
FCA: How do you incorporate your faith into your profession?
TW: I think the biggest challenge to being a Christian in this game is that people stay away from you; they don’t know how to take you. We all crave companionship, friendship and acceptance. But when you’re a believer, we’re set apart in the ways we live our lives. We have to walk that narrow road.
I believe there are too many people who have the wrong understanding of what life is really about. I just wish more people would give the Word of God a real chance in their lives to find out who God is, and not just what people say about who He is.
FCA: What’s been most rewarding about your life journey?
TW: Relationships with people. I’m a product of all the people I’ve met because of the game of baseball. I just feel blessed that as a child, I had those dreams of becoming a major league player, and it happened for me. Then I wondered what I was going to do after baseball, and I stayed in baseball, and those relationships continued.
God caught my attention years ago because He had plans for me. I marvel at what He’s been able to do in me, around me, and through me because He’s present in my life.
FCA Staff Quote:
“Tye Waller is a joyful and passionate man of God who uses his platform as an MLB coach to serve others and bring glory to God. He has made an enormous impact in many lives when articulating his faith with FCA whether on our campuses, camps, coaches’ events or in the community.”
-Rigo Lopez, Bay Area FCA Representative
-FCA-
–This article appears in the July/August 2015 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue digitally, click here: July/August 2015 FCA Mag Digital
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Photos courtesy of Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics