Coming Full Circle: Brady Pfister’s Journey from Student Athlete to Coach

Underneath the Friday night lights, a familiar face returns to the CHCA sidelines—but this time, Brady Pfister isn't wearing a helmet and pads. Instead, he stands on the field as an assistant coach, helping guide the next generation of Eagles athletes. It’s a journey that’s brought him full circle, from a student inspired by the game to a mentor who is pouring his passion back into the place where it all began.

“My first football memories were from the 2005 state finals team,” Brady recalls. “I was just in first grade, and I remember going up to the Hall of Fame with my friends, feeling completely enamored with football. My love for the game started here at CHCA, and for me, there’s really nowhere else I’d rather coach.”

For Brady, CHCA isn’t just a place to play football—it’s home. It’s where his love for the sport was first nurtured, where he learned the values of hard work, community, and faith, and where he now gets to pass those same lessons on to others.

A Coach, A Mentor, A Brother

Brady’s journey as a player helped shape his approach to coaching today. As a linebacker for CHCA, Brady cherished every moment on the field—from thrilling victories to the simple camaraderie of bus rides home with his teammates. “It’s the relationships that stick with you,” he says. “Winning is fun, but what you remember most are the people you did it with.”

Dean Nicholas, one of the CHCA football broadcasters, echoes this sentiment: "Brady was constant energy, constant hustle. He was one of those guys who motivated the whole defense. I still see those qualities when I watch him on the sidelines with a new generation of players."”

Now, as an assistant coach, Brady is committed to fostering that same sense of belonging for his players. “Football was always an outlet for me—a way to turn everything up to a ten out of ten,” he explains. “I find that I’m a better husband, a better father, and a better professional when I have that space to coach, to give my all. And I think a lot of our players feel the same way—school is great, but they need that outlet where they can just let loose and be all in.”

One of the principles that Brady has embraced as a coach is to “go 1-0 in every moment”—a concept that encourages players to focus on the present rather than striving for unattainable perfection. “If you’re worried about being perfect, you’re going to drown yourself in guilt and shame,” Brady says. “But if you focus on being 1-0 right now, in this exact moment, you can play with so much more freedom.”

Lessons Learned, Lessons Shared

The influence of Brady’s former coaches has been pivotal in shaping the way he approaches the game today. From his first coach, Drew Baker, current Assistant Principal at the CHCA High School, who taught him to “honor God and play like champions,” to the many mentors who have walked alongside him, Brady carries forward the values of discipline, faith, and resilience. “Coach Leland would remind us that discipline isn’t pleasant in the moment, but it produces a harvest later,” Brady remembers. “It’s one of those lessons that sticks with you.”

Now, Brady hopes to offer that same kind of mentorship. “We’re not just coaching X’s and O’s. We’re here to live life with these young men,” he says. “Sometimes, that means helping them navigate things beyond the field—like grades, relationships, or just the challenges of being a teenager. I think back to my own time at CHCA, and it’s rewarding to now be the person helping someone else through it.”

Calvin Renfroe, CHCA's head coach, notes: "Brady lives this out in so many ways personally and professionally, and we are blessed to have him on our team. He loves and challenges our players in so many ways to help them grow into the best version of who God created them to be."

More Than Just a Game

What keeps Brady on the sidelines, even as life has grown busier with the arrival of his new baby boy, isn’t just his love for football. “I came to coach because I loved football, and I cared about this program,” he shares. “But I’ve stayed because of the kids. I’ve fallen in love with the kids in this program. In 10 or 15 years, they’re going to be the next generation of husbands, fathers, and business owners. And being able to have a part in shaping that—that’s why I prioritize coaching, even when it’s hard.”

Brady envisions a future where CHCA isn’t just any football program—he wants it to be the premier Christ-centered high school football program in the world. “Who says we can’t?” he challenges. “We’re building something special here, and it starts with intentional, relational discipleship. It’s about creating an environment where players are being molded both on and off the field, where they’re being equipped to lead lives that honor God in everything they do.”

As he stands on the field, guiding players through drills and encouraging them to push just a little bit harder, Brady knows he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be—home, at CHCA, helping young athletes fall in love with the game, just like he once did.