June 30, 2025
Fellowship of Christian Athletes is proud to welcome Matt Van Cleave as the ministry’s EVP of Golf
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org), a ministry dedicated to equipping coaches and athletes to use the dynamic platform of sports to reach their peers with the transforming power of Jesus Christ, is pleased to welcome Matt Van Cleave as the new Executive Vice President of Golf.
FCA Golf exists to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to see how the game of golf can be a powerful tool to expand FCA’s ministry impact,” said Van Cleave. “My family and I are deeply grateful and honored to step into this role, and I’m humbled to serve as the Executive Vice President of Golf.”
Born in Maryville, Missouri, and growing up in the area, Van Cleave was first introduced to FCA at Maryville High School. He went on to play golf at Kansas State University from 2002 to 2005, where he received his bachelor’s degree in social science. Van Cleave played professional golf for five years and then spent nine years as a PGA Professional in Arizona. From 2015 to 2017, he was the head golf coach at Chandler Gilbert Community College and then became a Class A PGA Professional in 2017, working at various golf courses in Arizona, including Troon North Golf Club and Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club.
Van Cleave was first connected with FCA Golf while playing professionally through a few different tour Bible studies led by FCA Golf staff. In December of 2020, he was reintroduced to FCA Golf and Jim Esary, FCA Golf Donor Development Director, while running an FCA Golf fundraiser as the host professional. He joined FCA staff in 2021 and became the FCA Golf Director in 2022.
Van Cleave and his wife Sarah met at Kansas State, where Sarah was a women’s golf team member. She is currently a High School Counselor in Mesa, Arizona. They have two children, Max and Madeline. They love to go hiking, travel, coach/cheer for their kids’ sports teams, and barbecue with family and friends.
FCA Chief Sport Officer Sean McNamara said, “As Matt steps into his new role as the EVP of Golf, I am eager to see all of the ways he is going to expand the ministry for coaches and athletes. His experience as a professional golfer, a coach and a FCA staff member uniquely equips him to elevate FCA Golf while glorifying God and impacting lives for Christ.”
Since 1954, FCA has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful platform of sport to reach every coach and every athlete with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities around the globe by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire and change the world through the Gospel.
FCA’s theme for 2025 is “Glory,” based on 2 Corinthians 3:18: “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” FCA reminds coaches and athletes that their identity and value are found in Christ, rather than their sport.
Visit Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ website at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheFCATeam, its Instagram page at www.instagram.com/thefcateam or its X (formerly Twitter) feed www.x.com/TheFCATeam.
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To interview a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108.
