Remembering Ron Finley


Coach Ron Finley, 1933-2009

We encourage you to share your memories or express your condolences in this Guest Book
to the Finley family. Please submit your comment by clicking here to e-mail the CU sports
information office or e-mailing jcmegginson@campbellsville.edu.


Tiger football patriarch dies

By Richard RoBards
 
The man who brought life to a dormant Campbellsville University football program has lost his battle to extend his. Ron Finley, 76, who preached on-field excellence and demanded off-field values, passed away Monday, Oct 5 at 2:20 p.m. while under care for various health ailments at a Greensburg hospital ... Read more
 

REMEMBERING COACH

"....and then the Lord will say, well done my good and faithful servant. Thanks for everything Coach, we love you!" - Darryl Peavler

"Thanks Coach for bringing football back to CU. May the Lord continue to bless your work at CU. My prayers go out to the family." - Patricia Wiessner Myers

"My prayers are going out to the family. His smile was fantastic and his love for CU Football tremendous....." - Deanne Greer Beard

"Coach Finley was one of a kind! He had a big hand in bringing me to Campbellsville where God changed my life! Praise God!" - David Hicks

"Tell all I am sorry to hear of the death of Coach Finley. He and Coach Wallace had some historic battles. He was a great coach and his legacy at CU speaks for itself. Would you please pass along to Mrs Finley and the family we are thinking of them. It was nice to see her in the press box again this year. Take care." - Dave McCulley, Lambuth University Associate Athletic Director

"My condolences to the Finley family. Coach Finley was a great man. My experiences at Campbellsville College/University being on the football team has made me a better man, father, and husband. I learned to never quit (FAWTW), some may remember this, and have faith in the Lord. He will be missed and was loved my many." -  Paul Bailey

"Coach Finely was a remarkable man. Myself and many others are one of the biggest reasons we all enrolled at Campbellsville University. His way of getting his point acrosswas timeless and classic. When times were tough he was an innovator of motivation and leadership. WE lost one of the great ones. He will forever be missed and in our hearts." -Kyle Weigleb, New Albany High School Assistant Football Coach


"I always enjoyed being around Coach Finley. He was a fine gentleman and coach. As a sports reporter and now a sports information director, Mr. Finley always treated me with much respect and dignity - just like he treated everyone. He was humble and gracious in victory and defeat. He will be sorely missed." - Jay Stancil, Union College Sports Information Director


"Coach I am forever in debted to you for helping me become the responsible man and father I am today. Your lessons were tough and honest and I don't want to know where I would be today without you. You have touched so many people and I am so thankful to have played for you. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been touched by such a great man."- Paul Mandeville, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Assistant Football Coach


"Coach Finley will be greatly missed but will always live on in many of our lives and those at CU. Coach Finley was the first man, besides my dad, to demonstrate how to be a man and stand firm in what you believe. He showed great love for his LORD, family, career, and people he came in contact with. Coach Finley has completed a wonderful life and touched many people. GOD will be very pleased! Coach Finley, thank you for bringing me to CU and having an everlasting impact on my life. I offer my sympathy to the Finley family." - Todd Cook and family


"Uncle Ronnie was such a generous, caring man. He always had that sparkle in his eye that usually was followed by his unforgettable laugh. He was always gracious and kind. He was a fantastic coach and teacher. He loved his family more than anything. I know tonight he is with family and friends who preceded him to heaven. I know Uncle Ronnie is touching the robe of Jesus. I believe that is the one thing that he wanted to do the most. I loved Uncle Ronnie and will always remember him. He held all his friends near and especially those he coached at his high schools and at Campbellsville University." - Sharon Sheets Finley


"Coach Finley is a man that I deeply respect and admire. He is everything that a Christian coach should be. He wanted to excel with every fiber of his being, but at the same time he knew that true victory can only come through Jesus Christ. He told us all the time that he loved us and I never doubted that for one minute. He was intense and passionate and would not accept anything less than your best effort. He instilled in us a responsibility to do things the right way all the time. I am humbled and honored to have played for such an outstanding man." - Jeff Weaver, assistant coach, Troy Christian High School (OH)


"Coach Finley was a great man who wanted nothing more than to share his love for God and inform us of God's love for us. His total focus was to take a bunch of young boys and make strong Christian Men who would be able understand that the trials and tribulations that we faced on the field were simple compared to the challenges that we would face in life. Coach Finley life impacted each of us in a different way, but I cannot forget the legacy that his life brought-- Businessmen, Teachers, Coaches, Preachers, and Soldiers. God Bless the Family during this time of bereavement and all of those whom share in their loss!" - MAJ Chris Scharklet, Sr. AKA "Sharky"


"My prayers go out for the Finley family. I have great memories of getting to know when n of my young men played for him. May we all be more like him." - Coach Joe Morrell, Mulberry High School (Retired)

"Uncle Ron was the last of three great brothers (Jim, Harold and Ron). I was in California during the ceremonies finalizing something that will benefit the football team and university. I felt like he would understand my absence trying to finalize something that would benefit the young men who play football for CU in the future and continue his dream of creating a first class program that would not only benefit those young men directly associated with the program but also the University. He is in a better place and I guarantee, he is still 'coaching'." - Steve Finley, nephew


"I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Finley at the 1997 NAIA Championship Game. Even though I wasn't associated with either team, he made me feel welcome--as we often ate breakfast together during the Championship Week. As a fellow Christian, I was (and always am) elited to learn of other beleivers that are a part of college football--and share their faith. He encouraged me to do my best with my work with college football and to keep God in the forefront-which He is. While I only had that time with Coach, I always thought of him when I'd see Campbellsville statistics or scores. Since Coach Finley, and I told him so: since you're a Christian and a football coach, you remind me of Bobby Bowden. I know that some day when it comes my time to go to Heaven, I will see Coach again; and while we won't be sharing breakfast together again, we will be sharing Eternity forever. And though they were few and far between, as Bob Hope would say: 'Thanks for the memories' Coach Finley."  --Tex Noel, 1st-N-Goal, Executive Director, Intercollegiate Football Researchers Association

"The loss of Coach Finley was a devastating loss to all of us and he will be sorely missed. I can definitely state, "Coach Finley turned many of us from boys into men. Coach Finley left a legacy among the players who have moved on to bigger and better things with a greater since of pride, dignity, and respect. It was very good to see all my fellow teammates who came and honored Coach Finley andhis family. May God continue to shower us with his blessings." -- Major Chris L. Scharklet, Sr.









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