Boiling Springs, N.C. - As part of the halftime festivities of the Gardner-Webb women's basketball home conference game against UNC Asheville on Thursday night, January 31st, GWU Baseball Head Coach Rusty Stroupe will be recognized for receiving the 2012 Jerry Kindall Character in Coach Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Baseball Ministry back in December.

Stroupe, who was presented the award at the FCA Baseball Breakfast at the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Chicago on January 5, 2013, will be recognized at halftime of the women's basketball game in front of his family, friend, peers and colleagues, as well as the community in which he has helped serve for many years.

Stroupe has posted an impressive 644-511-1 career mark on the college level, which includes a 288-278-1 mark in his 10 seasons in charge of the Runnin' Bulldogs. That tenure includes appearances in conference championship games twice - in 2008 as a member of the Atlantic Sun and in 2011 as a member of the Big South.

The Cherryville, N.C., native is involved with the FCA Coaches Bible Study and FCA Huddle at Gardner-Webb. He has filled numerous pulpits in Western North Carolina as a lay speaker, and is a deacon, Sunday School teacher and member of his church's Mission Committee. Stroupe has led yearly Mission trips to the Dominican Republic, where he has directed sports camps, church construction, worship leading, and Bible School for children.

Stroupe has also led three different teams of Gardner-Webb students on Fall Break Mission Trips, and he and his team participated in the BaseBald program to raise money for childhood cancer research.

"We are honored to select a man like Rusty," said David Daly, national director of FCA baseball. "This is the highest award we present. Rusty is a coach who lives out his faith in front of his players, colleagues, at his church, and in his community."

Stroupe has coached at the high school (West Henderson), junior college (North Greenville and Brevard), NCAA Division II (Lander), and NCAA Division I levels (Gardner-Webb). At each stop in his coaching career, Stroupe has made a Kingdom difference in the lives of his players and coaches.

Stroupe and his wife, Karen, have been married 26 years and the couple has three sons, Will, Cal, and JT.

The award is named in honor of longtime University of Arizona head coach Jerry Kindall. Kindall, who won a national championship as a player at the University of Minnesota before playing in the Major Leagues for his hometown Minnesota Twins, as well as for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.

Kindall became one of the all-time great college baseball coaches, leading Arizona to three College World Series championships. He is a member of FCA's Hall of Champions and the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday night in Paul Porter Arena.

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