Since 2013, Jerry Pettibone has been the President of Sooners Helping Sooners, a non-profit that helps former OU student athletes. 

He is also been the President of The Jerry Pettibone Group, which is a high school football evaluating and recruiting consulting group.  

A graduate of Jesuit High School in Dallas, Pettibone received a football scholarship to OU, where he played running back and defensive back from 1959 to 1961 for the legendary Coach Bud Wilkinson.  

Pettibone went on to serve as Recruiting Coordinator at several schools.  First at SMU under Coach Hayden Fry, at OU under Coach Barry Switzer, then at the University of Nebraska under Coach Tom Osborne.  Pettibone’s long list of college football recruits include 20 consensus All-Americans, 2 Heisman Trophy winners, 2 Outland Trophy winners and a Lombardi Award winner.  

Pettibone became an Assistant Head Coach at Texas A&M.  In 1984, Pettibone was voted by Sports Illustrated as the #1 recruiter in the nation.  As an Assistant Coach, Jerry was with programs that participated in 11 major bowls, and with teams that won 8 Big Eight championships.

As the Head Coach at Northern Illinois University, his teams set 51 school records and 8 NCAA records.  While serving as Head Coach at Oregon State University, his team defeated UCLA in the 1994 Rose Bowl.  In 1995, he was the runner up for Sports Illustrated Coach of the Year.

Jerry was first introduced to FCA while coaching at OU.  In 1975, FCA State Director Chuck Bowman invited Jerry to attend an FCA camp at ORU.  During that week, Jerry saw the ministry’s impact on the 1200 plus athletes at camp.  Jerry committed his life to Christ during that ORU camp.  From that point on, Jerry became one of the most active FCA college coaches in America.  He became an ambassador for the ministry, speaking for FCA throughout the country, and was recognized by athletes as a Christian at each university where he coached.  He served on the FCA State Board of Directors in Nebraska, Illinois, and Oregon.  

He is married to Susy Haskin Pettibone and is active with Search Ministry Bible Studies.  Jerry’s influence has impacted many athletes in a powerful and positive way for Christ.  His legacy will be recognized as a coach who coached for Christ!

FCA has had an impact on the lives of Kevin & Dorea Potter since both were growing in their faith at high school FCA chapters, Kevin at Putnam City High School in OKC and Dorea at Grinnell High School in Iowa.

Kevin played football at PC High on state championship teams coached by his dad. He realized he was missing a personal relationship with Christ when OU great, John Roush, spoke at their FCA meeting. Kevin went on to play football at Cameron University and was involved in FCA there. FCA State Director Chuck Bowman asked Kevin to join the FCA staff in southern Oklahoma and Kevin became the first FCA Representative out of Ardmore.

As Dorea grew up, she watched her dad be very active in FCA. He was a TV and radio broadcaster and spoke at many FCA rallies and events. Dorea led her high school FCA chapter while becoming a state golf medalist and a team golf runner-up with her sisters on the team. She went on to be an All American at the University of Oklahoma, won the Big 8 golf championship, named OU Outstanding Female Athlete her senior year, and received the Oklahoma FCA award for University Women’s Athlete of the Year. Dorea joined the FCA staff working out of the Edmond office with Chuck and Betty Bowman and covering the OKC area with Gary Lower. Dorea was the first female staffer to work with female FCA coaches and groups.

Kevin & Dorea met through FCA. Once married, they moved to Illinois to start their radio careers and stayed active in local FCA groups there. Upon purchasing radio stations in Bartlesville in 1997, and their move back to Oklahoma, the Potters resurrected the FCA Adult chapter luncheons there. These luncheons continued for more than 25 years. Through the years, Kevin & Dorea helped encourage local FCA groups and sent many kids to FCA camps, including their three boys, Heath, Kaleb & Brent, who also loved FCA. Their prayer is for their 8 grandchildren to also know Christ and be involved in FCA. Kevin & Dorea have been life-long financial supporters of FCA. No organization has touched their lives and that of their family, like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Kevin & Dorea stated, “We are eternally grateful - To God be the Glory”.

Originally from Shawnee, Rod Rutherford graduated from Midwest City High School in 1975. While attending Rose State College, he began working in the construction industry for ONG. At the age of 19, he joined United Mechanical and has been with the company for over 48 years. Rod began as a pipefitter apprentice, advanced to service technician, service manager, project manager, and eventually President of the Construction Division. Rod is currently semi-retired and remains a partner in the firm.

Rod and his wife Laura were faithful supporters of FCA for over 30 years. They got involved in FCA after attending an FCA event with OU football players at a home in Oak Tree. That night, Rod saw the impact that FCA had on college athletes. He served on the Oklahoma FCA State Board of Directors for over 20 years, including several years as the Board Chairman. During his leadership, FCA hosted incredible major events including Michael Oher of “The Blindside” and former First Lady Laura Bush. Rod was instrumental in leading the growth of FCA Staff as well as the growth of the Oklahoma FCA Endowment Fund. He continues to serve as a member of the Oklahoma FCA Endowment Committee. Rod’s style of leadership is always about others and not himself. He is a humble servant who loves the Lord, his family, and the ministry of FCA.

Rod and his wife Laura have attended Life Church since 2000. They have been married for 45 years and have 1 adult son (Jake), daughter-in-law (Jennifer), 1 daughter (Marli), and son-in-law (Chas) and 3 grandchildren (Hope, Tripp, and Henry).

There may be no prouder son of Vian, Oklahoma, than Kenyatta Wright. A four-year starter for Oklahoma State University and a seven-year NFL veteran, Kenyatta played linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. After hanging up his cleats, he knew there was only one place to raise his children: home. In his lakeside Oklahoma town of Vian.

Kenyatta currently serves as the GM/Director of Football Business at Oklahoma State University. He is also an entrepreneur and business owner, with ventures ranging from construction and oil & gas marketing to retail boutiques that he operates with his wife and family. He has spent 17 years as a volunteer high school football coach and is an unapologetic advocate for his community and state.

Kenyatta served on the FCA staff for 7 years, from 2014 to 2021, in Oklahoma’s Lake Country Area. Kenyatta was committed to reaching coaches for Christ. He knew that by encouraging coaches to grow in their faith, the coach would influence their athletes to do the same. Derald Glover, former Board Chairman for Kenyatta’s area and former Superintendent of Fort Gibson Schools stated, “Kenyatta Wright defines what FCA is all about. I had the privilege to watch Kenyatta grow the influence of FCA in Oklahoma’s Lake Country. He used the platform that God blessed him with to ignite the growth of FCA and expand the Kingdom. He is a true Champion for Christ!”

Kenyatta credits the Vian community, the OSU Cowboy Football family, and FCA for molding him into the man, husband, father—and now grandfather—that he is today. He is passionate about helping young people find pathways in life and challenging all men to embrace authentic manhood.

Kenyatta is known for his ability to connect with a wide range of audiences, crossing age and cultural lines. He loves to coach, hunt, and relax with his family.

He and his wife Amber reside in Vian, Oklahoma, along with their four children and one son-in-law: Alexis, Matt, Elijah, Solomon, and Avery. They are also proud grandparents to Hudson.

Raised in Stillwater, Doug Tewell started out as a caddy for his father at age 12. Tewell played college golf at OSU and graduated in 1971 with a degree in speech communications. Tewell turned professional out of college and became a member of the PGA Tour in 1975. What followed were 4 PGA Tour victories in 7 years.

Injuries cut Tewell’s PGA career short – he was impacted by left elbow problems at the age of 46. While rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery in 1997, Doug worked for The Golf Channel as an on-course commentator and golf analyst, resulting in the nickname “Tewelltime”.

Tewell was granted golf’s ultimate mulligan. He made a comeback and put together a successful career on the Senior Tour, including Major Championships at the 2000 Senior PGA Championship and the 2001 Countrywide Tradition. He was voted “Rookie of the Year” at age 50 on the Champions Tour. His 23-under par at The Tradition was the lowest scoring record in PGA history for a major championship. Tewell retired from competition in 2007, after a successful 32-year competitive career.

Doug and his wife Pam were faithful supporters to FCA over the years. For 12 years, they sponsored the Doug Tewell FCA Golf Tournament at Oak Tree National, raising over $600,000 for FCA. Doug brought in golf pros, PGA Chaplain Tom Randall, and provided items to each golfer. His connection with venders allowed golfers to walk away from each tournament with some of the newest clubs on the tour, golf balls, jackets, and much more – all at no expense to FCA. Doug was willing to speak for FCA, not only in Oklahoma but throughout the country, and did so many times. Doug was a true ambassador for FCA in both the PGA Tour and Senior Tour.

Doug and Pam have been married for 56 years and have 2 children and 5 fabulous grandchildren. Doug has found that, contrary to what many believe, there is life after golf!