Shawn Siegfreid Alumni Spotlight - MNU Football

The vision and mantra for the MNU football program is Building Men Who Lead From the Front. The university has always given its student-athletes a foundation for success in the future, and has had a great impact on many. The current coaching staff wants to create a culture not only built on on-field success, but a culture of men who will have a great impact wherever they are.

In this Alumni Spotlight MNU Football would like to share the story of former MNU linebacker Shawn Siegfreid, current lead pastor at Denver First Church.

How did you end up attending MNU? Tell us about your story.
 
I grew up in the KC area. I had a typical and ordinary growing up. I was into all three sports. Football, basketball, and baseball were my passions. I loved the Royals and loved the Chiefs. I am today still an avid fan of both KC teams even though I have not lived in the KC area since 1988. In my junior high years I knew my family was in trouble. After my parents' divorce right before my sophomore year in high school I began to live with my dad. He had come to Christ at College Church of the Nazarene under the ministry of Dr. Paul Cunningham. He and Dr. Cunningham had worked together while my dad was captain of the Olathe Police Department. Dr. Cunningham was also the chaplain for the OPD.

While living with my dad I attended College Church of the Nazarene. My junior and senior year I attended Olathe South and started on the football team. My senior year, I was recruited to play football by coach Gordon DeGraffenreid and coach Curt Ammons. I was named to the Kansas All-State team following my senior year. I had a few offers from others colleges like Emporia State and some junior colleges. I was impressed with MidAmerica and had made some friends with some of the players. So the prospect of being able to play college football in my hometown was very appealing. Coach D and Coach Ammons really promoted the football program and I accepted the opportunity to play football for four more years. A decision that I had no idea how it would positively affect my life!
 
What was your experience like at MNU? What were some of the highlights?
 
There are so many wonderful highlights that I had at MNU. The best thing that happened to me at MNU is that I found Christ and my time at MNU deepened and strengthened my relationship with Christ. I met the love of my life, Sherri, and we have been married for 28 years and have three wonderful kids. I made lasting relationships especially through the football program. Some friends I speak with almost every month. Football was the reason I went to MidAmerica. I had four wonderful years of playing football. I was able to start at middle linebacker all four years. My junior year we won our first ever conference championship as a program. I was able to play with some incredible young men. Paul Young, Eddie Fowlkes, and Ken Jolly (who played for the Chiefs). I had the honor of making all-conference for three years and first team my senior year. I have the honor of still holding a couple tackle records for MNU. All these add up to fond memories that I often take with me when I preach to my congregation.

Most of all for me it was at MidAmerica I discovered that God loved me and wanted to use me for the proclamation of His gospel. That an unsaved kid from a broken home could know that God had a plan for my life and that plan included a call to preach and pastoring now five churches here in America. I would not have followed God's will for my life if I had not accepted the opportunity to play football at MNU. I found my life's purpose at MNU through the football program.
 
What people/positions had the biggest influence on you?
 
Coach DeGraffenreid and Coach Ammons were very influential. Dr. Bob Drummond my degree advisor and Dr. Spindle were very supportive. The pastors of College Church especially Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Dan Vanderpool are spiritual giants in my life. Former player and friend Don Diehl was instrumental in me finding my faith not knowing that years later our children would marry each other. Evangelist Dr. Chuck Milhuff and professor Jeannie Milhuff and my roommate Chip Milhuff were my spiritual family. 
 
What advice do you have for the young men who are currently in the MNU football program?
 
My advice to the players would be to take advantage of the opportunity to play college football at MNU. God has given you the opportunity of a lifetime and it will pass quickly. Coach Willmer and MNU have given you an opportunity that most young men never receive! I have told football players about the experience I had the last game of my college career. It was up at William Jewell with a few hundred people. After the game I was overwhelmed that I would never play tackle football again. My point; don't waste the experience. Put all your energy into the years that God gives you to play football for this wonderful program!
 
What lessons did you learn while here examples or stories?
 
There would be many. The key lesson would be that by attending MNU and playing football God can reveal His purpose to you for your life! A purpose that will change and transform you and transform and give hope to others. I will never forget my junior year (1985) when we for the first time beat Baker University and then be ranked in in the top 20 for the first time ever. The year before Baker had come in and trounced us on our own field - it was embarrassing. So it was an epic moment for our program to finally beat an elite team. When you believe in each other you can do things together that no one could ever dream.

It's an honor to be able to promote MNU football. Coach D. and coach Ammons gave me an opportunity 32 years ago that continues to inspire and drive me today. If I had not played football at MNU my life would have been so different. I tell people I love football because of football I found Christ and received a college education, found a life partner in my wife Sherri and also found God's purpose in my life. I have pastored five churches here in America and in every one of them I have told my story of football and MNU. God continues to use MNU and its football program to guide young men, sometimes without direction, to find their purpose in this world. My prayers and support will continue to be with MNU and its football program.