Noah Reed is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Veritas Prep High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX – Veritas Prep football head coach Mike Sanfratello centered his life around Jesus Christ, unifying those around him by extending the call of discipleship to Arizona's athletes.

Sanfratello’s faith was born at the Arizona Fellowship of Christian Athletes during a rough point during his football tenure at Northern Arizona University. More than 30 years later, Sanfratello still remains committed to the FCA by teaching student athletes about the gospel of Christ.

“There was a season where I got kicked off the football team and got in trouble with the school,” Sanfretello said. “It was a watershed moment in my life, really searching for who I was, my identity and what was the foundation of my life. 

“And I kind of realized that I built my house on the sand.”

In that moment of turbulence, several teammates took a chance on Sanfratello and invited him to an FCA ministry activity. Sanfratello said the introduction to Jesus completely redefined him.

“My whole life and identity is built on the reality that Jesus came, died and rose from the dead so that I can have a relationship with him and eternal life,” Sanfratello said. “So, everything that I do in life, hopefully, prayerfully, is an overflow of what he's done in me.”

After a stint overseeing five FCA partner states in the Southwest, Sanfratello reigned in his role to director of field operations in Arizona. Now, Sanfratello serves alongside admin Julie Fisher.

“Mike has this uncanny ability to write a ship and get it pointed in the direction that it needs to go,” Fisher said. 

Fisher met Santratello in 2010 a high school athlete, graduating from the FCA program as a campus leader at Grand Canyon University. According to Fisher, Sanfratello is the reason she remains on the FCA staff 15 years later.

“Mike has this amazing ability to take a situation and see what could be, not what is,” Fisher said. “Nothing will stop him from getting to that vision that he's a total visionary.”

Fisher credits Sanfratello with keeping FCA leadership pointed toward the people, focusing not only on the students who attend meetings regularly, but the ones who may walk right past them.

“Mike never looks at anybody like they don't belong,” Fisher said. “Mike wants everybody to be there. He wants everybody in the room. He wants everybody to hear the message.”

Veritas Prep Athletic Director Chase Beebe said Sanfratello instilled a distinct culture on the field. According to Beebe, brotherhood on the football team can be traced to Sanfratello’s selfless deeds that stem from a devotion to support others.

“He's got a servant's heart,” Beebe said. “(Mike) really tries to pour himself and extend himself in any way he can to provide for those around him and put those around him first.”

Pair that willingness to serve with an outgoing, loud personality; the result is Mike Sanfratello.

“I see coaching as an extension of my ministry with FCA,” Sanfratello said. “I don't see it as something separate.”

In just his second year coaching at Veritas Prep, Sanfratello helped the program to an undefeated regular season. Sanfratello cited Jesus as the biggest game-changer in his locker room.

“A dormant passion my whole life was to be a head coach that was creating culture and helping invest in people, using the vehicle of football to teach more than just the game,” Sanfratello said.

“Until God releases me from this position or role within the organization, I'll just continue to be a faithful steward of what he's called me to do.”