Grace in the News
GU Hires Major League Veteran to Lead Athletic Expansion and GrowthPosted on May 29, 2013
Omaha, Neb.—Grace University has announced the hiring of former major league player and coach Thaddis Bosley, Jr., to lead the expansion of its athletic programs. “Thad Bosley’s leadership experience, vision, passion for growth and development of young people, and communication ability has prepared him for leading our athletics to a new level of excellence,” said Dr. David Barnes, president of Grace University. “Our teams have a long history of performing well on and off the field. Thad will be able to move our students to the next level athletically, academically and spiritually.” As the Executive Director for Athletics and Athletic Development, Bosley will be spearheading Grace University’s athletic expansion plan and developing new programs and resources. Bosley has been a key architect in the recently announced athletic expansion, which is vital to reaching enrollment and revenue growth plans. Bosley has been serving as a consultant during the planning and implementation of the initial athletic program expansion, including new coach hires. As a Christian leader, he understands the unique mission of Grace University and is committed to raising up servant leaders. As Executive Director of Athletics and Athletic Development, Bosley will oversee and coordinate the direction and implementation of all athletic programs. He will work closely with the athletic department and coaches in the recruitment and athletic development of our student athletes. In addition, Bosley will serve as the head baseball coach. Grace University is in the first year of a three-year plan to expand the school’s athletic offerings to include women’s soccer, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s track and field, the addition of junior varsity teams, and the development of athletic fields. Women’s soccer and baseball will begin in the 2013/2014 season. Research is beginning to assess the feasibility of other sports including wrestling, lacrosse, and shooting sports. The Grace University Royals expansion also is being done in preparation to move to the NCCAA Division I level and to join the NAIA, which increases the level of competition and scholarship opportunities for student athletes. “I am confident that we can develop top-ranked programs and continue the Grace University tradition,” said Bosley. “But my greatest desire is to mentor young men and women and provide an environment of leadership, integrity and excellence.” Bosley comes to Grace University with a strong professional and athletic background. He was a Major League Baseball player for 14 seasons, twice leading the league in pinch hits. He was the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics, where he coached two American League MVPs, and a runner-up Rookie of the Year, and was the hitting coach for the 2003 Team USA, qualifying Olympic Team. Bosley began his Christian coaching career at Bethany University before being asked to lead the development of the first baseball program at Arizona Christian University in 2010. “The expansion of athletics is being guided by the historic, purposeful mission of Grace University,” said Dr. Barnes. “Our founders recognized the need for Christian higher education, and we want to provide greater opportunities for Christian student athletes to reach their calling.” Off the field, Bosley is the owner and Managing Member of Kinnor Holdings, LLC, an investment company that facilitates the private placement of accredited investor funds in real estate investment, participation agreements, commodities, and hedge funds. Kinnor assists the Christian community in the restructuring and refinancing of its debt obligations. Bosley owned B & E Records, where he wrote and produced contemporary Christian music and R & B ballads, and provided venture capital for the start-up of Bellmark Records and the development of new artists. He has been an instructor of New Testament Survey for Jubilee Christian Center Bible College in San Jose, Calif. Bosley has earned Executive Certificates from Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Investment Banking Institute; attended Major League Baseball’s Executive Development Program; and studied at Bible Way Pentecostal School of Ministry. Grace University, located in Omaha, Neb., is a regionally accredited, private Christian university with more than 40 diverse undergraduate, graduate and adult degree completion programs including education, business, psychology, music, nursing and Christian ministries. The university’s mission is to develop servant leaders for the home, the church and the world through excellence in biblically integrated education. Posted in Athletics, Men's Baseball |