Brandi Cantrell called to ministry following Lubbock ISD Hall of Honor career at Coronado

It wasn't easy for Brandi Cantrell to walk away from coaching.

The Coronado volleyball team had just reached the state championship, falling to Austin Westlake to finish the season 41-4. Only two players were graduating from that squad, giving Cantrell reason to want to stick around and go for the ultimate prize.

But she felt the pull of another career path — a different type of "calling."

"Although I believe that coaching is a ministry, I felt like the Lord was moving me out to move the next person in," Cantrell said. "I think that coaching was a teaching ground for me, to prepare me for my job with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes."

Cantrell left Coronado in 2005 to begin her journey in Christian ministry. Her contributions in four seasons as head coach at her alma mater were recognized Saturday, when Cantrell was inducted into the Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor.

Cantrell will be listed with the Class of 2021, one of three honored at a ceremony at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Cantrell's class, along with the 2020 inductees, had their original celebrations postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cantrell accepted her trophy on stage from her high-school coach and fellow Hall of Honor member Patty Jones. Cantrell spent two seasons as an assistant under Jones before leading Amarillo Tascosa to the state semifinals in 2000. That proved to be Cantrell's only year with the Rebels, returning to Coronado to succeed her coaching inspiration.

"Coach Jones has always been a part of my family," Cantrell said. "From the time she coached me … she's been one of my biggest supporters. She defines what it means to be a coach with integrity, a coach that's successful. … I wanted to be like her. She inspired that in me, to do the great things that she did and in the right way."

Coronado never fell short of the regional quarterfinals under Cantrell, who also twice guided the team to the regional semifinals. The consecutive regional-tournament trips set the stage for the Lady Mustangs' historic run. The 2004 appearance remains Coronado's only state tournament.

"We were like family. That was the closest team I've ever had," Cantrell said of the 2004 team. "I felt like they just committed to the process. They trusted me; I trusted them. And they got hot at the right time of the year."

From there, Cantrell said she was "guided" into the ministry world. She said it eased her mind leaving the program in the hands of Jenny Gaona, a trusted assistant coach.

Cantrell admitted there was a learning curve when she began vocational ministry in Vienna, Austria. She worked there until returning to Lubbock in January 2012. She said her time overseas prepared her for her current role as Texas Tech's women's chaplain and campus FCA women's director.

"I had no ministry experience (prior to Austria). All I knew was sports, coaching and Jesus," Cantrell said. "But the Jesus part was enough. I learned a lot, and I felt like that was a preparation for me to come back to Lubbock."

State champions abound

Six state-championship winning teams were honored Saturday — two in each of the classes.

That included 2000 Coronado boys golf, 1970 Estacado boys track, 1965 Dunbar boys basketball, 1981 Monterey girls basketball, and consecutive titles from 1989-91 for Lubbock High girls gymnastics.

Tommy Ricks entered as a member of the 2020 class. The Dunbar standout was the leading scorer on the 1965 title team. Panthers coach Curtis Gipson, a Hall of Honor inductee in 2013, was on hand to speak on the group, which he credited with morals equal to its basketball prowess.

William Malone, a Dunbar hooper from 1958-60, took his place with the 2022 class. The trio of Panthers honorees prompted an impassioned message from Hall of Honor chairman David Thetford, who hosted the program.

"There's going to be a time there's no one left from Dunbar," Thetford said. "We're going to remember Dunbar High School forever through the Hall of Honor."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Brandi Cantrell called to ministry following career at Lubbock Coronado