HIMPower Magazine HimPower November 2017 | Page 20

Coaches Zachary and Anthony Criss with players
Coaches Anthony and Zachary Criss for rivalry match
after some initial reservations, he took their
advice. People often ignore warning signs,
fail to listen to what their own bodies are
telling them or refuse to pay attention to the
advice of others. There are also those who
lack familial support to encourage them to
do the right things for their health.
Thirdly, Coach AC has a strong faith
in God. Instead of panicking when he
realized he was having a stroke, he was
completely calm and at peace. Although it’s
worth noting here that Coach Criss is a man
of God, the price Jesus paid on the cross
(Isaiah 55:3) makes His healing available to
everyone. That’s good news because anyone
who trusts God and has done their part to
help themselves can expect God to fulfill
His promises (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
Also worth mentioning is the Criss
20  HimPower November 2017
legacy. Coach AC is part of a long coaching
tradition that began with his father Willie,
who coached at OD Wyatt High School
where son, Zachary, now coaches. A few
years ago, Coach AC and Coach Zach
created an annual rivalry known as the
“Criss Bowl”. Needless-to-say, it’s a much
anticipated event each year. Understanding
the Criss legacy gives insight into Coach
AC’s popularity before the stroke. After
the stroke and his testimony, Coach AC
has gained an even greater following from
those who respect him as a person, a coach,
family man, minister and man of integrity.
So, when he talks about the dangers of
stroke and how to avoid having one, people
listen—even better, many are taking action
to prevent them.
“Every 40 seconds, someone suffers
a stroke. Yet, 80 percent of strokes are
preventable. Though certain risk factors —
including heredity, age and race — can’t
be changed, several risk factors can be
changed, treated or controlled.”
www.strokeassociation.org
The fact that several risk factors can
be changed fuels Coach AC’s resolve to