Dal Shealy, who was first introduced to FCA during a breakfast event in Chicago in 1962, joined the ministry as its Executive Vice President in 1989 before being named President and CEO in 1992. During Shealy’s 14-year tenure as President he developed the ministry’s mission and vision statement still used to this day: “To see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.” Shealy launched the One Way 2 Play: Drug Free! program, the urban initiative and international programs, as well as Sport-Specific Ministries. FCA experienced ministry, staff and financial growth during his 13-year tenure – the number of Huddles nearly doubled and the number of staff nearly tripled. Shealy officially retired from FCA staff in 2008 and volunteered for a local FCA ministry.

Shealy’s 39-year football career began as a player at Carson-Newman College before taking his first coaching job at Laurens High School in South Carolina. His career then funneled him from Mars Hill College as a head coach back to Carson-Newman where he served as a head coach from 1970-73. After serving as an assistant coach at Baylor, Tennessee and Auburn, Shealy accepted the head-coaching job at the University of Richmond in 1980. Shealy’s nine seasons, from 1980-88, saw the Spiders earn berths in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs twice.