Grant Teaff to deliver ‘difference’ message

SAN MARCOS — Legendary football coach and motivational speaker Grant Teaff has a message for coaches, teachers and other mentors who struggle to make a difference in the lives of today’s young people. He will share that message during a lecture at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at San Marcos Baptist Academy. The event is free and open to the public.

“Take the lead when it comes to ethics and integrity,” Teaff writes in his newly published book “Beyond the Game: A Coach’s Influence.” “We have the wonderful opportunity each day to touch and change lives through the power of our influence.”

Teaff will talk about that opportunity, offering practical techniques and knowledge from his many years of coaching and teaching experience, combined with advice shared by hundreds of other successful coaches. He will share how those who work with young people can help them develop into responsible leaders, even in a culture that champions entitlement and emphasizes self over service.

Introducing Teaff will be former NFL greats Mike Singletary (via video) and Walter Abercrombie, who played for Teaff at Baylor University.

The Teaff lecture at San Marcos Baptist Academy will be the first in a series of distinguished lectures planned on the topic of education and leadership. Teaff and his wife, Donell, agreed to lend their name to the lecture series not long after Teaff visited the SMBA campus for the first time as the school’s commencement speaker.

Head coach of the Baylor Bears from 1972-92, Teaff has served as executive director for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) since 1994. A nationally known author and speaker, Teaff has been named to eight different halls of fame, including the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. He was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year six times and AFCA National Coach of the Year in 1974.

Founded in 1907, San Marcos Baptist Academy is a college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 7-12. San Marcos Baptist Academy is located at 2801 Ranch Road Twelve in San Marcos. Call 512-753-8006, email henrys@smba.org or visit www.smabears.org.