Rooted in Relationship: The Heart Behind the Coaches Wives Huddle

In Southwest Minnesota, God is using a group of coaches’ wives to make a lasting impact far beyond the sidelines. The Coaches Wives Huddle, led by FCA Southwest Minnesota Area Director Robin Knudson, began with a simple question: How can we reach coaches for Christ when their schedules are packed and their time is limited?

For Robin, the answer came in 2017/18 when two coaches’ wives approached her about starting a group where women married to coaches could gather for encouragement and spiritual growth.

This prompting was actually an answer to prayer for an obstacle that Robin had been experiencing in ministry. “As a female staff person, I can’t necessarily walk into a male coach’s office, close the door, and have a one-on-one conversation,” Robin explained. “But I can minister to their families, especially to their wives, who are often walking through the similar challenges and joys.”

A Safe Space for Shared Stories and Scripture

The first Coaches Wives Huddle launched just a few months later and included women connected to Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) and Marshall High School. What began as a small gathering quickly became a source of strength and community.

“Coaches’ wives speak the same language,” Robin said. “They understand what it’s like to balance family life while their husbands pour into athletes, to juggle schedules, and to manage things at home during a busy season.”

Through the years, the group has met consistently, studying Scripture together through book studies and various FCA resources (like the Discovery Bible Study Method). The women span generations: some are new moms while others are now married to retired coaches. “There’s wisdom and fresh excitement in the room,” Robin shared. “They encourage each other and grow together.”

The Ripple Effect of Ministry

What began as one small gathering has multiplied in ways Robin never expected.

• One of the original wives now serves on the Southwest MN FCA Board.
• Another leads the Marshall Middle School Huddle.
• One couple helped start a Baseball Huddle, while another is beginning a Wrestling Huddle.
• Yet another family is exploring starting an FCA huddle in Lac Qui Parle.

“Praise God! It’s His ministry,” Robin said. “I just get to walk alongside these women and watch what He’s doing.”

Robin also points out how God has used the Huddle to strengthen marriages and families. After attending Coaches Time Out (CTO), some of the couples became comfortable praying together and with their families for the very first time. “They learned how to talk about faith as a family,” she said. “Now it feels natural to them.”

Fruit That Lasts: Stories from the Wives

• Jan Bahlmann, wife of Marshall Head Football Coach Terry Bahlmann, said:
• “Friendships have blossomed, faith has grown, and the blessings have been abundant. The Huddle gives me the chance to study the Bible intentionally and hear others’ perspectives under the authority of Scripture.”
• Nancy Blanchard, wife of longtime SMSU Baseball Coach Paul Blanchard, shared how the group gave her peace and perspective during her husband’s health scare:
• “This Huddle has been instrumental in keeping me in the Word and empowering me to share God’s grace and mercy. It’s helped me support my husband through the ups and downs of coaching with an eternal mindset.”
• Emily Pollock, wife of Marshall Baseball and Football Coach Chace Pollock, described how the ministry changed her walk with Christ:
• “Our first study spoke to every frustration I’d had as a coach’s wife. It showed me that God has a reason for placing me right where I am. My faith has grown, and my husband and I are growing, praying, and loving our Savior together.”

Each testimony underscores how a simple act of gathering around God’s Word has produced spiritual growth, strengthened marriages, and influenced entire families and teams.