Longtime coach Gunter honored a Model Coach

Brad Gunter Jr. has coached 53 varsity seasons at Valley Christian Academy, 29 baseball seasons and 24 basketball seasons. Coaches don't coach that long unless they love what they're doing, and Gunter Jr. loves coaching kids. "I coach because of the kids and the relationship with the alumni," he said. "That's more important than any win or loss. It's about the relationships built through sports. We have great relationships with our alumni. The alumni know I'm there if they need me. Sports are just a cool tool where the relationship starts." Gunter, 51, is one of six coaches in the Sac-Joaquin Section who were selected for the Model Coach Award, and he and Ashley Faraone, the girls soccer coach at Merced-Golden Valley since 2016, were selected for statewide honors. "Brad is the cornerstone of his community and a true embodiment of CIF's value," Sac-Joaquin Section Associate Commissioner Jason Feuerbach said. "To win this award is awesome, but it's not why I coach," Gunter said. "The section gold card that I receive is an amazing thing and I'm honored, but every coach who has ever received this honor are all worthy of it. There are a lot of worthy coaches who mentor children through sports that deserve this award. I'm grateful to have received it." Gunter teaches several classes at Valley Christian Academy, including a Bible class, comparative religion, economics and government, English and British literature. Gunter has been the athlete director at the school for 29 years, as well as vice principal, but with the passing of his dad last year, he's now the administrator of the school and lead pastor of the church. He has also been involved at the section office on the board of managers for 25 years and has been on several advisory committees. Gunter said he couldn't have coached all these years without the support of his amazing wife, Megan, who has been a constant supporter and his best friend. He also said he wished the award could have gone to all of his alumni and coaches that have made this amazing journey worth it all.