Stewarding the Legacy

A.J. Parnell (Football)

Originally from Kirkland, WA, Parnell grew up playing football and went on to play quarterback at Bethel University (MN). After he wrapped up his playing career, Parnell knew he wanted to go into coaching. “I’ve had lots of family members who were teachers and coaches and I knew it’s what I wanted to do too, to help people become all that they can be,” he said. Parnell taught and coached at the middle and high school level for 11 years, before receiving an opportunity to coach at the collegiate level—his alma mater—for the next seven years. Parnell brings a variety of coaching experience, having led the defensive line, quarterbacks, and running backs unit, and serving as special teams and offensive coordinator. 

When the position at APU opened, he knew it was a good match. “There was so much alignment with who APU was looking for and who I am at my core,” Parnell said. My coaching DNA matched and I could tell coming to APU would be a perfect fit. It was hard to leave Minnesota, but my wife and I could see God working in front of us and we wanted to follow the path He called us to, trusting His hand.”

As the Cougars begin building their team and get set to take the gridiron next fall, Parnell is thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of APU football. He knows that the new players and coaches who join the team won’t be starting from scratch, but stewarding the incredible legacy of the program. 

We want to represent that legacy as best as we can. I think about how hard our guys will play on the field, how much they’ll care for each other off the field, how they’ll grow in their faith in Jesus, that’s been the story of APU football from the beginning. As I’ve talked to alumni, that’s been the transformational thread that’s continued through all of the eras of APU football.

A.J. Parnell

As a coach, Parnell wants to be a point guard, empowering the people around him, players and coaches, to be the best they can be. He’s excited for former Cougar stars Mark Speckman and Bo Beatty to join the staff, as well as a number of other talented coaches who will pour into hundreds of incoming student athletes in the coming years. “I have strengths, but I want to surround myself with coaches who are better than me in a lot of ways, who can mentor me and challenge me,” he said. “I’ve been really intentional in hiring guys who are aligned with APU, who know this place and understand what we’re about, are smart in how they relate to others, and are humble but hungry to learn and grow.”

As APU transitions from NCAA Division II to Division III, Parnell is excited to recruit student athletes. While building a new team from the ground up presents a challenge, Parnell is drawing upon the legacy of APU football to attract talented players. “We are recruiting the best athletes we can. Some guys have scholarship offers, but I know who we are has immense value that can cause them to say APU is the place where they want to be. We don’t shy away from who we are,” he said. “APU is a place where you get to go to chapel, you get to talk about Jesus and your faith, you get to learn from exceptional faculty in all kinds of programs, and all of that is going to add value to who you are so that you’re ready to succeed when you leave this place. That’s the holistic growth that APU is about regardless of what division we’re in.”

B.J. Porter

Originally from Layton, Utah, Porter was a star guard for APU’s men’s basketball team from 2011-13. After graduating, Porter served as an assistant coach at APU, the University of Antelope Valley, Pepperdine University, and the University of Denver. After a brief hiatus, Porter returned to APU to take the helm of the men’s basketball program. He reflected on his time as a student athlete in why he wanted to come back and who he wants to be as a coach. “The roots that were put into me at APU by coaches like Justin Leslie, Jeff Rutter, Peter Bond, and Casey Weitzel—they’re the type of coach I want to be. I took their lessons with me everywhere I’ve been, being a player’s coach where it’s not just about coaching, but mentoring and developing young men as a whole,” he said. “I’m not concerned about my own legacy. I want to continue the APU way. I’m bought into that 100 percent.”

Porter has enjoyed getting to know his players, helping them build chemistry as a team. Although the team is talented and expects to win a lot of games, Porter is focused on something bigger. “My coaching style is based in servant leadership. My job is to help these young men navigate through life on and off the court,” he said.

I want to help them tap into their full potential, to let them know they have a coaching staff that believes in them and loves them. It’s the APU tradition. We’re a family, not just for the one, two, three, or four years that you’re here. It’s a lifelong relationship.

B.J. Porter

One of the most important parts of an APU experience is spiritual growth. Porter and his staff are open about their relationships with God, praying before every practice and game. Porter’s office is always open, so his players can come talk to him about what they’re going through in life outside of basketball. “One thing I tell my players is that there’s only one person who walked this earth who was perfect, and that was Jesus Christ, and none of us are Him,” Porter said. “We’re all going to fall short. Basketball will fail you, your teammates and coaches might come up short, but there’s one person who’s never going to fail you, and that’s God. If they know that and grow in their faith while they’re here, that’s success.”

Dan Ploog

Originally from Minnesota, Ploog fell in love with basketball as a kid. He went on to play at Biola University, where he had many spirited games against the Cougars. After graduating, he married Heidi Hardeman and became an assistant coach for Heidi’s father, T.J. Hardeman, first at Hope International University, then at APU beginning in 2007. After 18 years of coaching APU’s women’s basketball team, T.J. Hardeman announced his retirement, and Ploog fit right in as his natural successor. “I loved coaching with T.J. for all these years. It’s been such a blessing and I’ve learned a lot,” Ploog said.

Ploog reflected on two of the biggest lessons from his father-in-law. The first has been repeated many times over the last 18 years, whenever the Cougars are down big in a game. “We’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs, but we tell our girls to keep battling and staying after it. We don’t give up until the final buzzer sounds,” he said. “It’s amazing how many games you think you’re out of, but because we keep playing hard, we’ve come back and won.” The Cougars won many of these games during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. At the beginning of this stretch, Hardeman saw something in the team and told them they had what it took to win a national championship. In 2009-10, the team put together an extremely impressive 25-6 regular season campaign, and made it all the way to the national championship, only to fall to Union University. The Cougars shook off the loss and rebounded the next season to an even better 26-3 regular season record, before advancing to the championship once again against Union, emerging with a 65-59 victory—the program’s first national championship.

I remember T.J. saying he believed the girls could do it, but I didn’t know how serious he was. I learned that when you see something in a team, you’ve got to give the girls that confidence and push them to reach their potential.

Dan Ploog

While Ploog is grateful for all Hardeman taught him, he wants to be his own person. “I know I’m ready for this job,” he said. “I’m going to be my own coach, but at the same time, I’m not trying to recreate the wheel, because I wholeheartedly believe in all the things we’ve been doing.” Ploog’s fundamentals include having fun, caring for each other, and constantly getting better. He’s also a big believer in helping each girl learn their role on the team. “Everyone has an important role. Whether you’re scoring 15 points a game, locking your opponent down on defense, or cheering on the team until it’s your turn to play, each role matters,” he said. “Basketball is truly a team sport and when girls understand and buy into their role, doing it the best they can, that’s how you cultivate a winning team.”

This is reflective of the team’s verse for the year: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV). Guided by his own, Ploog hopes to help the girls grow in their faith this year. Having served as worship pastor at his father’s church for 23 years, Ploog knows how to inspire others in their faith. “Our girls will grow in wisdom, learning in their classes and getting a great education,” he said. “They’ll grow in stature, becoming better players and growing stronger together. Most importantly, they’ll grow in favor with God as they continue on their spiritual journey, learning how to serve others and bring glory to Him.”