132 | MAX OUT: Lubbock Christian Head Football Coach Chris Softley’s Playbook for Life and Leadership

About the Guest

Chris Softley is the head football coach and athletic director at Lubbock Christian High School in Texas. With a strong background in athletics, he played collegiate football until injuries led him to pivot towards coaching. Known for his leadership, grit, and deep faith, Coach Softley has made a significant impact in the realm of high school sports, molding young athletes into not only talented players but also well-rounded individuals. His approach focuses on leveraging sports as a platform to instill life lessons, emphasizing the importance of identity, resilience, and holistic development both on and off the field.

Episode Summary

In this inspiring episode of Becoming UnDone, host Toby Brooks sits down with Chris Softley, the influential head football coach and athletic director at Lubbock Christian High School. Chris shares his journey from a promising young athlete in Nebraska with dreams of playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, to a transformative leader in high school athletics in Texas. Through candid reflections on his own experiences with injury, identity, and unfulfilled dreams, Chris delivers powerful insights about the pathways to personal growth, leadership, and the pursuit of meaningful impact beyond athletic achievements.

Coach Softley discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including the life-changing injury that redirected his path towards coaching. At Lubbock Christian, Chris is celebrated for crafting an unparalleled culture of excellence that extends beyond the weight room and playing field—all rooted in faith, integrity, and authentic relationships. His strategic focus on strength, conditioning, and character building, intertwined with a deep compassion for every student-athlete, underscores his commitment to preparing young individuals for challenges in sports and in life. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and nurturing each person’s unique talents, echoing the sentiment that true success is measured by the lives we positively impact.

Key Takeaways

• Holistic Approach to Leadership: Coach Softley underscores the need for an integrated approach to coaching that nurtures both the athlete and the individual grounded in core values and identity.

• Empathy in Coaching: Softley emphasizes the power of empathy in leadership, advocating for coaches who connect deeply with their players’ experiences and challenges.

• Resilience and Identity: The episode highlights the importance of redefining personal success by concentrating on building resilience and maintaining a robust sense of self-identity, independent of athletic accomplishments.

• Legacy Beyond the Game: Through his narrative, Chris demonstrates how to leverage sports as a significant avenue for imparting life skills and enabling personal growth.

• Maximizing Potential: Softley advocates for continuous improvement and maximizing one’s talents, whether in athletics, academics, or personal life.

Notable Quotes

1. “I felt like I was born to be a quarterback… but apparently not for very long.”
2. “We want young men and young women to leave here and say, that wasn’t just lessons I learned. That’s a lifestyle.”
3. “At the end of the day, if you can check your heart, and you can truly love well… that just changes worlds.”
4. “My pregame talk is about one thing: identity…letting them play with freedom no matter the outcome.”
5. “If you can be your authentic self at all times, that’s when you can maximize. That’s when you can flourish.”

Resources

• Chris Softley’s Twitter
• Lubbock Christian High School Athletics

Coach Chris Softley’s conversation is a testament to the profound impact thoughtful and intentional coaching can have beyond athletic achievements. Tune in to the full episode for more insightful perspectives on resilience, leadership, and ensuring that the game of life is played to its fullest. Stay connected with “Becoming Undone” for more stories of transformation, purpose, and growth.