40 years of service!

Matt Orr: 40-Year Service Award Recipient
By Sarah Theule › Yesterday

It was at a young age that Matt Orr began developing discipline and a strong work ethic. At ten years old, he was operating a farm tractor between eight and twelve hours a day out on the Pueblo, Colorado, ranch where he was raised. He also enjoyed riding horses on the ranch, and to this day, he still likes to do yard work, acknowledging that some of the “farm boy” must still be in him.

Orr was offered a full athletic scholarship to Adam’s State College in Colorado for wrestling and football. However, his mother had heard the “Biola hour” radio broadcast and from that point on urged him to consider coming to Biola. As a freshman at Biola he met his wife, Patricia Florence. They married in 1968, and that same year, he committed his life to serving Christ (specifically through coaching as a ministry). He graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1969 and began his coaching career as Assistant Coach of the Biola wrestling team. In 1971, he also began coaching the men’s soccer team as Assistant Coach. The team took second place in the Christian Nationals that year. In 1978, Orr became the director of the summer swimming program (1978-1994). He earned a master’s degree in physical education from California State University, Fullerton (1980), and was appointed Assistant Professor in 1982 while continuing to coach. In 1986, both teams won the National Championship, and shortly after, the “Biolan” was dedicated to Coach Orr and his family for taking those two sports to Nationals.

When asked what has driven him to succeed in his work, Coach Orr was firm in his response, “Purpose, passion, and commitment.” He has coached at Biola for 32 years, three years as assistant coach, 14 years as head wrestling coach, and 15 years as head soccer coach, and has seen more than his fair share of success for one person. Coach Orr holds the record for the most wins in Biola soccer history (140) and the most games coached at Biola (302). He has been selected “Coach of the Year” eight times, and in addition to coaching the 1986 National Championship team, Orr was selected the NCCAA “National Coach of the Year” in 1980, 1984, 1985, and 1998. He was also named the “All-Far West Coach of the Year.” Throughout his wrestling career, he coached 17 NAIA All-Americans and 26 NCCAA All-Americans (16 National champions), five being honored with outstanding “Wrestler of the Year” awards. In his soccer career, Orr coached nine NAIA All-Americans and 12 NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-Americans. His teams received the GSAC “Sportsmanship Award” in 1994, 1996, and 1997.
Orr is most pleased with the legacy of implementing his “Total Release” discipleship ministry using sports. “It is a new biblical way to approach sports and a love offering” based on Colossians 3: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily for the Lord rather than for men.” Orr believes “all self-satisfying motivations in sports eventually have a sell-out point based on one’s circumstances. But with God, we purify our motives as we invest our competitive talents, and experience the joy of the Master.” He emphasizes putting off the things of the world and “disciplining oneself for godliness.” He encourages his athletes to develop “focal points” by saturating their minds with the Word of God. His athletes read the Proverbs every day, and this starts a basic relationship with the Lord. Matt places scripture all around his own office to keep his focus on the right things, and believes the key to living a life of godliness (and success) is to “get disciplined in life.” One of his favorite quotes is from American football coach and broadcaster, Jimmy Johnson, who stated, “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

In 1998, Orr was awarded “Father of the Year” by the California Department of Social Services. “Athletics was a bridge to impact the community,” recalls Orr. “There is nothing as rich as having faithful athletes who are also very committed fathers.” The Orrs have two daughters, Elizabeth and Kathryn, both of whom are accomplished musicians. Their two older sons, Ben and Joe, have played soccer under the direction of their father. Joe is currently a math adjunct professor at Biola. Ben is a three-time NAIA All-American in soccer and was GSAC “Player of the Year” in baseball in 1998. He also signed as a free-agent with the Chicago Cubs and is presently in sports ministry with FCA Baseball Ministries. Their youngest son, Sam, was an eight-round Major League baseball draft pick, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Orr has five grandchildren with four more on the way. “I want my grandkids to meet the Lord. I spend three hours a day with them, telling them stories about the Lord, and I’m famous for birdie walks.” During these walks he sings to his grandkids and tells them stories about their grandparents and great-grandparents. He also tells them “how God made them special gifts to their parents.” Whenever he can, he spends time praying at Creek Park run. “My ministry has shifted to a ministry of prayer.”

Orr’s coaching days finished eight years ago, but he still teaches a number of general education courses. “I have a heart to change the lives of the 200 or more students I interact with on a daily basis.” Ministering to students has always been important to the Orr family. For years they opened their home every Thursday night for Biola students to engage in Bible study and a time of fellowship. He admires Patricia for supporting the ministry and recognizes he “would not have had a ministry if it were not for her.” He was quick to praise her for being “an awesome wife, mother, and grandmother.”

Enthusiastic about the spiritual emphasis that continues to be strong at Biola, especially within the Apologetics Department, Orr commented, “We really need that emphasis since we need to be able to defend our faith.” He continued, “I am also pleased about the new business building. It is a great addition. Moral character is really needed in business.” The family man, coach, athlete, and teacher models himself after men of strong moral character, such as Jim Elliot, who prayed, “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”