While four schools around town boast high-profile athletic programs in the competitive Sierra Foothill League, there is a fifth school that flies largely under the radar.

When people discuss private school high school sports, they usually talk about powerhouse programs like Jesuit and Christian Brothers, but all over the region are small schools just like Valley Christian Academy. With slightly more than 100 high school students on campus, the Lions have built a strong record of athletic success.

Opened in 1979 as Tabernacle Baptist School, VCA has been about family from the outset. Pastor Brad Gunter, Sr. opened the school when his son, Brad, was in the first grade.

“Dad established sports at VCA so I could play,” said Brad Gunter, Jr., who currently serves as the school’s vice principal and athletic director, while coaching both baseball and boys basketball. “When I returned to VCA after college, dad gave me the green light to build the entire athletic program.”

Gunter played basketball for his father through high school, and his baseball career extended through tours at Sierra College, Liberty University and Sacramento State.

What Gunter has built at Valley Christian now is a program that provides incredible sports opportunity to students at a school with such a small population. The focus is on succeeding on the field of play, but incorporates much more than that.

“Coach Gunter taught all of us that there was a time for humor (most of the time) and there was a time to be serious (game time),” said Warren Rosebrock, who played soccer, basketball and baseball at VCA. “I remember the trips to and from the games to be almost as fun as the game. Whether we were headed to a basketball game in Napa or a baseball game in Marysville he always kept us loose and ready to go.”

“I knew that I wanted to eventually coach early on in my college career,” Gunter said. “VCA gave me the opportunity to shape the programs how I wanted and make the true priorities in life matter more then the outcome of a game. The byproduct has been a lot of wins, but more importantly a lot of alumni that have succeeded as husbands, dads and great men.”

From the early days with 24 high school students and just a boys and girls basketball program, the school has grown to include football, girls volleyball, JV and varsity boys basketball, girls basketball, JV and varsity baseball, softball and co-ed golf.

“The goal has always been to never leave a student with the emptiness of non participation,” Gunter said. “We didn’t want kids to suffer from attending a small school by not offering what other public schools in the area offered. When we had enough that were interested in a sport, I pushed to start the program.”

“Sharing athletes is a huge way of life on this campus. If you have a great football player, you convince the baseball or basketball players to play that sport to help the football player out and vice versa.  What we offer for our size of school is a credit to our students, coaches, and parents. It is even mind blowing to me at how much we are able to offer year after year.”

Gunter’s best memories have come outside the lines.

“One of the greatest moments was the first time Daniel Claiborne brought his newly born little girl by the gym to see me,” Gunter said. “Those are the moments that mean the most to me.”

He has also seen his former players persevere through difficult situations and has come to admire them.

“I had an alum (Scott Shannon) that coached our JV baseball team for two seasons,” Gunter said. “He has his wife Rachel were expecting their first child. They were told early on that the child would not survive, but still made the tough choice to go through with the pregnancy.

“I was so proud of Scott and Rachel. Even though this was the toughest situation I had ever seen, they stayed strong and didn’t let it destroy them. They did eventually have a healthy baby girl over a year later. Scott and Rachel are heroes of mine.”

Gunter has used his philosophy of building character first to put some highly successful teams on the court and the diamond. When the Lion baseball team hits the field in the spring, it will do so as the two-time defending section champions.

The varsity boys basketball team is in the middle of a highly successful season as well, as it builds towards a hoped-for long playoff run.

Through it all, Gunter juggles the time commitments of school and coaching with an active family life.

“My family is amazing, especially my wife Megan,” Gunter said. “They understand completely and give me the flexibility to do what is needed to do for the ministry. I make every effort to attend all their functions and games even if that means I have to miss a practice.”

Gunter has even added the coaching of his kid’s teams to his schedule.

“Brad Gunter has an unbelievable heart for kids on and off the court and field,” Claiborne said. “He is great at motivating kids to be the best they can be in sports but more importantly how to be the best they can be in life. His knowledge for sports is absolutely amazing and he is incredibly smart, but his true passion is changing lives.”

Coach's Corner:

Brad Gunter

Valley Christian Academy

Family – Wife Megan (from Cupertino; they met on a blind date) and three kids (Micah, 12, seventh grade; Claudia, nine, fourth grade, Cloe, nine, fourth grade)

Favorite sport to coach – “My first love, and people will be shocked to hear this, is basketball. Baseball is what I have the most experience in, but there is nothing like a basketball game to get the juices flowing.”

Coaching philosophy – Character first. “Sports are a great tool to use to mentor young minds about life. I feel that you can teach a lot through sports – be on time, take responsibility for actions, work hard, and perseverance.”

Mentors – “My dad is without a doubt the biggest influence in my life. He has shown through example that putting others first is more rewarding than anything else. I also had a great JC baseball coach (Steve Eakes – Highlands H.S. Athletic Director), who taught me to do things the right way and still be a competitor doing it.”

Favorite quote – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Last book read - Josh Hamilton’s Beyond Belief