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While he was a part of the 2016 national championship winning team, he didn鈥檛 travel to Omaha. He was at home, watching on television like everyone else in Conway.

But this year is different.

Josh Finklea, the chaplain of Coastal Carolina University鈥檚 baseball team since 2016, is in Omaha alongside the team 鈥� doing what he鈥檚 done all season long: offering steady support, encouragement, and a grounding presence.

A former college baseball player himself and now head pastor at The Rock Church, he's not focused on swing mechanics, double play turns, or a hitter's approach. Instead, he鈥檚 guiding the team from a different perspective 鈥� coaching the heart and shaping the lives behind the game. He believes this is his best way of contributing to the team鈥檚 success.聽

鈥淢y job is just to do everything I can to help the team. Once a week I鈥檒l share some encouraging words that can apply to life and apply to faith. But I鈥檓 really just another guy in the dugout who is there with them, and I get to do that through words of encouragement, through scripture and sharing the love of Jesus with them,鈥� Finklea said. 鈥漈he beautiful thing is that we have an incredible coaching staff that wants these young men to be great ball players, but great in life as well.鈥�

In a season defined by high expectations and headline-making wins, Finklea鈥檚 presence in the dugout has become a steadying force amid the pressure. Whether it鈥檚 a quiet prayer before first pitch or a timely word during a tough inning, he鈥檚 there.

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And while the stakes on the field have never been higher, Finklea's message remains rooted in something deeper 鈥� reminding the team their worth isn鈥檛 defined by wins or trophies, but by who they are becoming in the process.

That mindset has helped propel the Chanticleers through an already remarkable season. They lead the nation in wins and boast the longest winning streak in college baseball 鈥� but they鈥檙e quick to say the job isn鈥檛 finished. Their goal is clear: bring another national championship trophy home to Conway. Still, Finklea continues to remind them that true success isn鈥檛 measured by what happens on the diamond, but by the character they show along the way.

鈥淲e are baseball players, we are baseball coaches, and in my world I鈥檓 a preacher, but our jobs don鈥檛 fully define us," Finklea said. "Let鈥檚 admit it, we didn鈥檛 come here just to have fun, we didn鈥檛 come here to be just one of eight (teams). The whole goal is to win it, but in the end, win or lose these guys are children of God, they have a purpose in life that is bigger than just a W in the win column and I think most of them understand that. The trophy doesn鈥檛 define if they鈥檝e been successful or not. What defines if they鈥檝e been successful or not is did they selflessly love their teammate, did they relentlessly pursue a goal and did they own the opportunity in front of them.鈥�

Finklea鈥檚 message to the team as they take the field in Omaha is a familiar one 鈥� a motto the Chanticleers have fully embraced, passed down by CCU baseball alum Adam Rice: 鈥淥wn it.鈥�

鈥淥wn the opportunity right in front of you,鈥� Finklea said. 鈥淗ebrews Chapter 12 says you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We鈥檙e surrounded by people watching, put your eyes on Jesus and pursue the race in front of you. The world is watching, Conway鈥檚 watching, Myrtle Beach is watching, every baseball fan is watching. Own the moment by fixing your eyes on Jesus and pursue the goal that is in front of you.鈥�