We had the good fortune of connecting with James Bright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
With a career spanning over forty years, my formative years were spent in computer manufacturing, retail building supplies (family business), and computer network hardware sales. In those early years I was working long hours while attending college, starting a family, and serving Sundays in Church. I had very little time for anything else. I was in a cycle and always tired. There was no work life balance, but something was missing.

From my youth, through my High School years, I was a pretty good athlete, I competed in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track & Field. I loved the competition, I really did love it to a point well beyond athleticism to being a student of the game. My coaches selected me for the highest school award for the Physical Education Department and were encouraging me seek a degree in education and coaching. I had my sights on playing at the collegiate level but an injury in my Senior year derailed my plans.

Fast forward, I got married, had two children, finished college with a Business Degree, moved my family from California to Montana then eventually Texas where I’ve spent the last 25+ years in Integrated Business Planning in the Cellular Mobility and Aerospace sectors. Landing in Texas in 1994, my Work life Balance was still off kilter, still trying to make a name for myself, but something was still missing.

Did I tell you I married a very Godly woman who inspired me at every point to keep moving!

Time for a change. We were visiting a small Church for the very first time and were eager to meet new people, but God had other plans. As it turned out, we already knew a handful of folks attending the Church and one of them was the Athletic Director for the school where our teenage kids attended. Within a week he asked if I ever played sports and would I be interested in coaching. My interest peaked and before I knew it I was coaching Middle School Basketball and Football at Harvest Christian Academy in Watauga. I found that thing I was missing, coaching school level sports.

God had bigger plans. You would think the addition of coaching would add to an already full plate, and it did, but God was at work. I often had to leave work early to attend games across town and across the State. I was nervous my employers were losing patients with me but the opposite was true. I was actually honored by my employer multiple times for giving back to the community. I realized I could have a Work Life Balance.

God has blessed me with employment that affords me the time to chase my passions of faith, family, fellowship, and football.

After coaching at the school for about four years, I left coaching for a couple years to return to college to finish a portion of my education I had put hold. This is another story in itself but Dallas Baptist University provided a path that other colleges in the area could not accommodate.

Now the good stuff! After finishing at DBU I looked into returning to coaching but things had changed and my contacts were no longer the influencers. I was feeling a bit discouraged but a friend called me out of the blue and asked if I would coach a YMCA Flag Football team with his sons and a bunch of their friends. Of course I agreed and had a blast. Did I mention these boys were homeschooled. As it turned out, most the boys were aging out of YMCA but wanted to continue playing tackle football, but there weren’t very many viable opportunities for Homeschool Football in the area; however, there was this one mother that was the kind that knocked down walls for her son – she asked me if I would coach a team if she found a Homeschool organization that would start a football program. We found Texas Home Educator’s Sports Association (THESA) and the rest is history. THESA is a Christian organization and already had Volleyball, Baseball, and Basketball but not Football.

This year is my fifteenth season with THESA Football, we have grown from just a Middle School Team the first year to 78 athletes making up 2 Middle School teams, 2 JV teams, and a Varsity that has made the State playoff every year after the inaugural year with a State Championship in 2016. God has blessed me with a Work-Life Balance to be competitive in the work place, have the favor of my employer to explore my passion of coaching a well respected program (my ministry), active in Church, adopt 6 kiddos, and a State Championship Track & Field squad too. I have more on my plate today but God has blessed the time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The part that pays the bills is my job in Integrated Business Planning with a major Aerospace company

For the volunteer part THESA! We treat this as a ministry and a Christ-centered program first and sports organization second – that’s the success – we train year round to create as many fellowship opportunities as possible. I will, we will, for God’s will! Riders……let’s ride!

We had 1,100 at out Homecoming game this year – the folks in the stands, current athletes and alumni are quite a blessing!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d take him to the Football field for a practice or a game. Lunch or dinner at Coco Shrimp by the stadium. Maybe a trip to an area car show or a tour of Texas Motor Speedway, fishing Lake Ray Roberts, and a stroll & dinner in Downtown Fort Worth, or a visit to The Stockyards!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my wife Cindy and family for supporting me and keeping me grounded, you bring me joy. Shoutout to Ray DeBord for giving me my first real coaching gig. Shoutout to Monti Woolley for running through walls to make THESA Football happen. Shoutout to all the Godly men that have stepped up to coach and speak into these young men’s lives. A shoutout to the families that make THESA a success. A shoutout to my administrator Rachel Hawkes for her encouragement and making sure I’m in the right place at the right time. A shoutout to Dallas Burke and the THESA Board for standing behind me. A shoutout to all my workplace managers that have supported my habit. A shoutout to Coach Ryan Mantzel who is my spiritual accountability. A shoutout to all my athletes past, present, and future – you are what makes it worthwhile!

Website: www.thesariders.com

Instagram: @thesa_football

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jamesbrightcpim

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