Tennessee baseball chaplain once played pro, but his faith took him in another direction

When Dean Craig’s childhood hero told him his professional baseball career was over, it was much easier to take.

The Halls High School 1977 graduate was a multisport star. He excelled as a running back and linebacker (at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and was offered a scholarship to play at Vanderbilt. As a catcher, he chose baseball over football and played professionally for six years in the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees organizations.

When he was cut in the middle of the 1982 season, Craig tried to rekindle the magic and keep his baseball career alive.

“The Atlanta Braves offered me an opportunity to try out in spring training,” Craig said. “I thought I did well, but the day before cuts had to be made I got a notice to report to the minor league director.”

The Braves’ minor league director was Hank Aaron, who at one time was MLB’s home run leader.

“I remember walking toward his office,” Craig said. “I wasn’t happy about what was going to happen, but I was at peace with it. This was my last shot.

“I remember going into the office and smiling the whole time. I told (Aaron) it was an honor meeting him. He must have thought I was nuts.”

Another door opens

Craig’s faith, which had been honed since he was 11 years old at First Baptist Church of Fountain City, carried him through this rough patch. When the door closed on one sport, it opened on another.

He used his connections to find a spot as a tight end with Carson-Newman University football team. He played there for two years, winning the NAIA national title in ’84, and earned his degree in accounting.

He got a job with a major accounting firm in Nashville. While going to church there, a leader of his small group was the area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Craig had been active in FCA since he was at Halls High. There was an opening for an area director at the Tri-Cities, so he applied.

“I never even knew that the FCA had positions like this,” he said. “I had no clue.”

Path to his perfect job

Craig still marvels as he credits God for the path he’s followed. He was in the Tri-Cities for four years and Chattanooga for 10 before taking over as FCA Metro Director in Knoxville for the past 20 years.

He oversees 16 counties and supervises six area directors. Along with those responsibilities, he has been the chaplain of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville baseball team since 2004.

“I used to visit schools and talk to players and coaches,” Craig said. “Now, I visit with the area directors and steer them.’

Recently, Craig oversaw his 20th College Advance program, which is a weekend retreat for college-age athletes. He was given an award for his longevity.

“(Getting the award) reminds me how blessed I am,” Craig said. “I’ve been able to do what I love for a long time. Doing this for 20 years, how many lives have been touched? Great things have happened because of this event.

“I’ve always focused on controlling your attitude and your effort − leave the results to Him.”

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball chaplain once played pro but followed his faith