We are so excited to share that Eli Valder has been named Maranatha Christian Academy's new Athletic Director!

As most in our community know by now, Eli has been a key part of our high school program for many years now and a core leader for students and athletes alike.

Eli brings with him a wealth of experience suited specifically for this new role. In addition to his years of coaching and previous athletic administration experience, he has been actively involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and is committed to helping our coaches and student-athletes grow both athletically and spiritually.

Eli has already been working alongside our athletic department for many years, which only serves to make this a natural transition into leadership. Yet who to explain it all best than Eli himself in this letter to our MCA community as the new Athletic Director:

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Dear Maranatha Community,

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share both my excitement and my vision for the future of Maranatha Athletics.

Many of you know me from my six years teaching high school social studies here at Maranatha. Before coming to MCA, I served as both a middle school social studies teacher and athletic director at another Christian school. Alongside teaching, I have spent the past eight years coaching baseball at Hopkins High School while also serving our own athletic department over the past two years through event site management. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for both coaching student-athletes and supporting the many moving pieces that make a successful athletic program possible.

I believe athletics are about much more than wins and losses. Sports provide one of the greatest opportunities to develop discipline, perseverance, servant leadership, teamwork, and Christlike character. My desire is that every student-athlete who wears a Maranatha uniform would grow not only as a competitor but also as a disciple of Christ.

One of the initiatives I'm most excited about is partnering with Fellowship of Christian Athletes to take all of our head coaches through the E3 Coaching program. This training equips coaches to intentionally use athletics as a platform for discipleship, helping them lead their teams with excellence while pointing student-athletes toward Christ. My own involvement with FCA began in high school, where I helped lead our school's chapter, and I have seen firsthand the lasting impact Christ-centered coaches can have on young people.

Another exciting development is the return of Maranatha baseball. After years without a baseball program, we're thrilled to once again offer our students the opportunity to compete for their own school. We have an outstanding group of student-athletes and families, and we're looking forward to building a program that reflects our school's mission both on and off the field.

As we launch this new program, we're looking for parents and community members who would like to help make it a success. Whether you're interested in coaching, volunteering, helping build the program, or sponsoring uniforms and equipment, we'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to be part of establishing Maranatha baseball, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We're also transitioning to a new athletics website that will make registration, schedules, communication, scores, and important athletic information much easier for families to access.

As we continue to grow, we're looking to add to our coaching staff, particularly within our volleyball program. We are currently seeking a head volleyball coach and assistant volleyball coaches. If you or someone you know is passionate about mentoring students through athletics and investing in them from a Christ-centered perspective, I would love to connect with you and share more about these opportunities.

My goal is simple: to build on the strong foundation that already exists by fostering an athletic program that honors Christ, pursues excellence, and serves our students and families well. I want Maranatha Athletics to be known for competitive excellence, outstanding sportsmanship, and coaches who invest deeply in the lives of our students.

Thank you for welcoming me into this role. It is truly an honor to serve this community, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for Maranatha Athletics this year. I look forward to partnering with our students, coaches, and families as we continue to pursue excellence together.

Go Mustangs!