This is a story in three acts. Act one is about a man, his love for God, his love for his family, and his love of football. Act two is about a man who became friends with the first man and thought his story should be told. There’s more about him to come. Act three of this story is about hundreds of people, primarily young men who have been mentored and led by the first man, share his ideals and values, and love football. Here’s the beginning.
ACT I:
Denny Duron was a member of the first graduating class to attend all three years at Captain Shreve High School in 1970. He was a member of the Gator football team. During this time, Denny felt a calling to preach the gospel and had plans to attend seminary. But Louisiana Tech University came calling with a scholarship offer, which he promptly declined. They urged him to go and see Terry Bradshaw play his last college game, and as he sat watching, God spoke to him. Tech is where the Lord needed him to be. Now, this was back in the days before Tim Tebow. Players usually didn’t show their religious beliefs. There were a few exceptions, but for the most part, you kept it hidden. Denny asked himself, “Play football for the glory of God-what does that mean? What is the end game here?” Well, let’s see.
During his junior year, Denny was switched from playing Ist string wide receiver to 4th string quarterback. Denny didn’t particularly care for that – going from a starter to riding the bench. But God spoke to him and said he would quarterback the team to an undefeated season for the first time in Louisiana Tech’s history “for my Glory.” Long story short, Tech was undefeated that year. At the bowl game, an ABC reporter shoved a microphone in his face and commented that the bowl victory made their win 12 in a row. Denny replied, “Well, sir, I asked God for an 11-0 season, and he gave us a 12-0, praise glory.” That shows you what God can do.
After playing a few years of professional football, Denny returned home to Shreveport to help his father “finish” leading his church. Once his father retired, Denny had every intention of resigning his position. Again, this was not in God’s plan for him. “Because I’m a Christian, here’s what I believe with all my heart. It doesn’t matter what we want to do with our life. We have to listen to God’s plan for our life. If we just ignored what He wants for us, we would go down wrong paths over and over again – and then how would your life turn out?”
Denny chose the path God laid out for him, and countless lives have been changed. His mother. Frances. had founded a school in 1980 that Denny was destined to be part of. Evangel Christian Academy has grown from a K-8th grade school to one of our area’s most established and “highly honored” K-12th grade schools. ECA focuses on providing a comprehensive education as it prepares its students for various aspects of life, from academics and athletics to spiritual growth and development.
The role of faith in the establishment of Evangel Christian Academy cannot be overstated. Denny believes in the power of the Holy Spirit to affect the Kingdom of God through students who are mature in their Christian faith. Denny started a football program, which he coached for a number of years. Under his and numerous other coaches’ guidance, the Evangel Varsity team has garnered 18 District Championships, 43 State Championships, and 1 National Championship. Over the years, Evangel Christian Academy has achieved several notable milestones in its development. It has been named by USA Todav as one of the top eight high school springboards to the NFL. This recognition is a testament to the school’s rigorous athletic program, which has sent some 30 football players to the NFL and other professional leagues.
In addition to football, Evangel Christian Academy offers a variety of sports for students to participate in, including baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, cheering, and more.
Each athletic program aims to develop well-rounded student-athletes who excel in their respective sports while also prioritizing character development and community involvement. Evangel Christian Academy fosters an environment where students can thrive on and off the field by emphasizing the importance of athletics and personal growth.
Denny used football as a platform to share the gospel. He’d been trying to set football aside his whole life, and God just wouldn’t let up. “We have to listen to God’s plan for our life.” This is what he believes, and this is what he has taught so many Evangel Footballi players. Could this be God’s plan for Denny all along? With every winning season, through the trials of the losing ones, Denny believes that the Lord has helped them do what they do. “We just couldn’t take credit for it, honestly. To tell the truth, there’s nobody that understands what has happened here,” Denny chuckles. I like to call it what it is – a God thing.
ACT II:
At the age of 10, Aaron Benward met Denny when his father, Jeffery, and Denny were ministering together. Denny Duron impacted Aaron at such a young age that he considers Denny a mentor. For 40 years, they’ve kept in close touch. One day, during a phone conversation, Aaron asked how the football team was doing. Denny replied that they were having a hard time. It was so hard, in fact, that Denny was coming out of retirement to head up the coaching staff. Aaron asked, “When?” Denny replied, “Tomorrow.” After that phone call with Denny, Aaron began to toss around the idea of making a docu-series based on “one of my favorite people – one of my heroes,” Denny Duron. And with that, he began what became a three-year process, from the first day of shooting to the date it was aired. “God, Family, Football” follows ex-football player and high school football coach Denny Duron as he leads the team during the 2022 high school football season. The series ran on Amazon’s premium free streaming service, Free Vee. Evangel just signed a contract with Fox Nation for two more seasons with an additional two episodes per season.
This exposure on a national platform showcases the school’s commitment to excellence in athletics and faith, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in Christian education.
Do you see how God works?
ACT III:
The role of athletics at Evangel Christian Academy extends beyond physical prowess, as the school uses sports as a platform for character development and community building. In the “God, Family, Football” docuseries, we see Evangel players being taught to put God first in their pursuit of success on the football field, with coaches emphasizing the importance of faith, dedication, and teamwork. This approach to athletics instills valuable life lessons in student-athletes, preparing them for success in all aspects of their lives. For example, Denny uses a “Performance Spectrum” chart for his coaches to understand better who is “in the game.” The Performance Spectrum evaluates each player’s capabilities, practice performance, and actual game performance on a scale of 1 to 3. The spectrum never lies and allows coaches to call the right plays with the right players on the field at the right time. There are a few exceptions to what appears on the chart. Thoroughbreds, for example. Denny explains, “Some players are scaled high on the skill set chart but are low on almost everything else, but they still help you win ball games.
You have to recognize your thoroughbreds and figure out how to treat them without messing up the culture and chemistry of the team.” Denny is currently working on writing a book on the Performance Spectrum Theory. It applies not only to coaching sports but also to business coaching and leadership.
“God, Family, Football” is a spellbinding viewing event. It not only follows Denny and his coaching staff but also takes you into the lives of some players. Their home life, their school day, the ups and downs of winning and losing, and Evangel’s impact on community involvement.
Through this shared experience, the school community comes together to strengthen the bonds between its members. The series showcases the school’s emphasis on relationship-building, which extends to its athletic programs, most notably its football team. We witness the camaraderie and support among the players, coaches, and families. Evangel has an energetic team of moms working behind the scenes to support their boys. Watching and reinforcing the importance of these relationships within the Evangel community is inspiring.
Viewing the show will give insight into who and what Denny Duron is. He’s the real deal. Perhaps that’s why Denny was included in the 2024 Shreveport-Bossier’s 20 Most Powerful Men.
Congratulating him would probably make him blush and quickly tell you that his strength comes from a higher power. With God’s guidance, Denny, the coaching staff, the teaching staff, and the administration, rest assured there’s more to come for all the athletic teams and students at Evangel.
Evangel Christian Academy has big plans for expansion and growth in the coming years. One of the primary focuses of this growth is their football program’s continued development and success. With a storied history of sending players to the NFL and its recent journey to rebuild the program, Denny Duron has high hopes for the future of Evangel Christian Academy’s football team. He’s a great motivator and believes in tackling things “one play at a time.”
The school’s motto, “God, Family, Football,” reflects its commitment to nurturing students’ connections with God, growing deeper Christian roots, and instilling a strong sense of family values in them. Evangel Christian Academy’s educational approach incorporates prayers, Bible teachings, and spiritual guidance, which allows students to explore and deepen their faith. As a result, students at Evangel Christian Academy experience personal growth and spiritual development that extends beyond the classroom and the football field. God has plans.
And there you have it-a great story made for TV in three acts with more to follow.
We’ll leave you with a beautiful quote from Denny taken from the first episode. One that should go on a T-shirt someday:
“It’s tough to beat a great team, but it’s almost impossible to beat a great family.”
