What Pastors Can Learn from Coach Steve Kerr

In October 2015, Luke Walton was given the designation as Interim Coach for the Golden State Warriors. He would step into the role that had been filled by Coach Steve Kerr, who had to take a leave of absence due to a need to rehabilitate his back.

When the season started, it could not have gone better for Interim Coach Walton. The Warriors started 19-0 without Coach Kerr. By the time, Coach Kerr was ready to return, the Warriors had a league best 39-4 record, which was the 2^nd best start in league history.

Were the Warriors just fortunate to have a brilliant Assistant Coach in Walton or was something else going on?

Well, if you tested the theory that Coach Walton is simply a brilliant coach and no one else could lead the Warriors to that record, you might consider current Head Coach Walton who leads the Los Angeles Lakers. Since taking this position in 2016, the Lakers record has been an abysmal 38-96.

Thus, this remarkable start by the Warriors in 2016 had little – if anything – to do with Coach Walton. It had more to do with the culture of success that Coach Kerr helped build in their organization.

Before Kerr became their Head Coach in 2014, the Golden State Warriors had won 3 NBA championships, but none since 1975. As of today, they have won 2 NBA championships and will most certainly get another one this year, and it looks like their dynasty could accumulate many more.

You could argue that their all-star cast of players like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry are the reason, and no one should downplay their talent and contribution to the Warriors recent success. But, I would submit to you their recent success has more to do with what Coach Kerr has helped build.

Coach Kerr has built an organization and system for the Warriors that is a well-oiled machine. If Coach Walton can step in and lead the team to a 39-4 record without giving much thought to how and Coach Kerr can lead the team to similar success, the system is what deserves the credit, in my opinion.

Now, I am not a sports columnist or editor and the point of these lengthy illustration is not to present a theory about why the Warriors have had success. I am a pastor of a church in Wichita, KS who loves sports and I love to discover stories and symbols of the Christian life in the world of sports. And I believe this is one regarding the Warriors.

In Ephesians 4:12, Paul says that the aim of church leaders is to equip people for the work of the ministry. In short, it means that pastors (elders, deacons) are to strive to train their people to do what they do – both now and in the future. You could say, the goal of a pastor is to work himself out of the job. It is to help create a culture of biblical shepherding that most – not few – participate in.

What Coach Kerr has done for the Warriors is similar. The culture he has helped create could exist without him. I believe that if he retired today, the next Head Coach could still win an NBA championship.  

It is no different in the local church. Pastors, build up your people to be undershepherds. Train them to counsel one another (Colossians 3:16). Commit yourself to find faithful men and women who will take the training you received and be consistent with building up others (II Timothy 2:2).