dennis white

I believe in the ‘Proactive’ style of coaching. This means that “life is what YOU make of it.” I have ascribed to this philosophy in my pursuits spiritually, with family and life. My reasoning for this approach is based on the Biblical Scripture found in James 2:17 NIV “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”

Coaching is my passion, but prioritizing God, family, friends and personal growth cannot be outweighed by athletics and its pursuits. Being a coach, I know the importance in shaping and influencing the lives and futures of the many young people. Not only am I a coach, but also a teacher, counselor, guide, disciplinarian, father figure and most important of all, a friend for life.

There is no doubt that athletics is one of the few areas in today’s society that can develop a person’s character in a positive manner. Character is a broad term and participation in athletics can develop many aspects of a particular person’s character. Some of these include discipline, respect, teamwork, cooperation, loyalty, faith, and trust. For me, this is where the real satisfaction in coaching comes from–knowing that you have, to the best of your ability, helped prepare a young person for life after their athletic career.

As I have taught my children and others I have coached, I am a firm believer that things in life do not respond to you unless you begin to take steps toward them. Life presents us with options to move in faith or fear or to see life from a negative perspective or a positive one. Being proactive means, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. Active means “doing something.” The prefix pro- means “before.” So, if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens.

Having a proactive attitude is also about taking responsibility for your life. Proactive people don’t blame genetics, other people, circumstances or conditions for their behavior. Every moment in each day we are faced with situations where we have to make new choices. These new choices give us the perfect opportunity to do things differently and bring about positive results.

At the University of Central Arkansas, we will strive to have a positive and proactive attitude despite whatever circumstances may arise both internally and externally.  Being proactive means anticipating problems, seeking new solutions, doing your best at using one’s abilities to turn adversity in opportunity!