Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns coach talks faith, forgiving driver who killed his wife
Written by G Njuguna on July 21, 2021
Monty Williams, the head coach of Phoenix Suns, is known for speaking publicly about his faith in Jesus, and recently shared how it enables him to help his players reach their potential and got him through a personal tragedy.
“The essence of my coaching is to serve,” Williams said at a press conference after his team beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Finals, according to Sports Spectrum.
“As a believer in Christ, that’s what I’m here for. And I tell (my players) all the time, if I get on you, I’m not calling you out; I’m calling you up. You have potential, and I have to work my tail off to help you reach that potential,” the 49-year-old coach continued.
Players have “embraced” that strategy and “it’s served us well,” Williams added.
“God knocks the ball out of the park and I get to run the bases. It is a blessing and a privilege to be able to coach this team, alongside this staff, for this organization — it is a ‘get to,’ not a ‘got to.’ To our players and staff, I am so grateful for each one of you. I am blessed to work with you all daily. You truly have made me a better man.”
In 2016, Williams lost his wife, Ingrid, in a road accident. A driver under the influence of methamphetamines hit his wife’s car with three of their children inside. Their children survived.
At Ingrid’s funeral, Williams, who was an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time, quoted Romans 8:28, which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
In an interview on CBN News, Williams shared, “Forgiveness took the focus off of the accident and it really brought me before the Lord because I was really disappointed in how it all went down. I wasn’t disappointed in anyone, I was really disappointed in the Lord because I know how awesome God is and I know that it could have gone the other way, and I just couldn’t understand that and I still don’t.
“I don’t question God, I don’t question His love for me. I don’t like what happened — I don’t like this part of the plan. And I know that God’s going to do more with what happened with us, than He could do in another situation, with or without me. And I want to be a part of it.”
