The Best Seven Years of My Life
Chris Creighton — Seven years ago to the day I became the Head Football Coach at Wabash College. It is one of the best things to have ever happened to me. I was at Ottawa University in Kansas when I got a call from Wabash. At first, I didn’t have interest in Wabash or in leaving Ottawa. After a meeting with Dean Bambrey, Dean Ditzler and Vernon Mummert something inside me told me that I was supposed to be at Wabash. I was scared to death but the knowing inside me grew so strong that I made the decision to go to Wabash. Thank God I did.
So many incredible things have happened in my life in these past seven years. Heather and I were married in the summer of 2001. We now have three beautiful children. Wabash has given us so much. The Wabash Family is as tight as they come and we have felt welcomed into this extremely special family and we will always be grateful.
I have had a vision for what Wabash Football could and should be — we have tried to make playing football at Wabash one of the most incredible experiences of a person’s life. I don’t claim complete success in realizing this vision for each and every person but I can honestly tell you that our staff has given everything we have to make this vision a reality. I thank the administration for making it possible for us to pursue this vision. The support we have had has been off the chart.
Wabash Football is so special for so many reasons. You alumni make football at Wabash so important. Your passion for the college, and for the teams who represent it make the game day environment the best in the country.
For those of you who I had the privilege of coaching and who are now out making an impact on this world — thank you for believing in the program and for the intense commitment you made while at Wabash. You made coaching an absolute joy. My prayer is that our relationships will only grow stronger in the years to come. I will always be in your corner and will always do anything I can to help you.
To the incoming freshmen class of football players: Fellas, have the courage and self- confidence to make one of the greatest decisions of your life. Wabash is more than an education and it is more than playing championship football. It is literally a life changing experience. I know this for a fact because Wabash has changed my life. Wabash Football has been special for over 120 years and Wabash will continue to be special for the next 120 years. It is a hard decision for nearly everyone to make but if you know deep down that it is where you are supposed to be I challenge you to be strong enough to do the right thing and the best thing. You will never, ever regret it.
A couple of weeks ago I got a call asking if I would be willing to talk about being the Head Football Coach at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. What transpired in the past couple of weeks is eerily similar to what happened seven years ago. I was not looking to leave Wabash and didn’t want to leave Wabash. I have said a million of times that it is not about “stepping up” or going to a “higher level.” There is no higher level than Wabash.
I have always been committed to being where I believe God wants me to be. I have screwed up many parts of my life many times but this is an area where I truly want to be 100% on the mark. I want to be where God wants me to be and although leaving Wabash is going to be extremely painful for my family and I, we are convinced that we are supposed to go to Drake University. We believe that God has special things in store for Drake and we are excited about being a part of that.
We will always be grateful for our time here at Wabash and in Crawfordsville. Thank you again for being so good to us. May God bless you and yours.
Wabash Always Fights,
Chris Creighton and Family
