Biography
I am an educator, coach, husband, dad, and often misunderstood introvert.
As a kid I could not get enough of sports. Most of my free time was consumed with playing just about everything in driveways, vacant lots, backyards, and on organized teams. I played three sports in high school, two in college (Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI), then made sport a career by becoming a teacher and coach. After teaching in k-8 setting and coaching high school, I went back to graduate school and began my first collegiate faculty position at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. In 2004 I came back to Calvin College, where I’ve been a faculty member and administrator for kinesiology and intercollegiate athletics. I recently sidelined my role as professor for a while to become Dean of Education at Calvin University.
I’m also an intercollegiate coach. In graduate school I taught myself the game of golf (the one sport I did not grow up playing) and started sharing it with others. When the men’s golf coach job opened up at Calvin, I decided to give it a try. Since then, I have coached Calvin’s men’s team, fitting it around my other roles at Calvin. Our team celebrated our first-ever MIAA title in 2010 and first trip to the NCAA Division III Championships 2011. Since then, we’ve added two more titles (2013, 2017) and more invitations to compete at the national level.
My 8-year stint in Virginia was pivotal in shaping me as an academic, and it’s where along with my study of teacher education, I began to more seriously explore ideas of sport and Christianity. I spent a lot of time talking with colleagues from other disciplines and other faith backgrounds, and it helped me sharpen my thinking about what sport is and isn’t, and how it fits in the life of a Christian. I was always fascinated with teaching and learning process, so I’m excited to help others as they pursue careers in teaching and coaching.
My wife Joni is also an educator, and we enjoy life together with our three mostly grown children Grace, Maria, and George.
Education
- BA, Calvin College, 1990
- MAT, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1993
- PhD, UNC-Greensboro, 1996
Events & Appearances
| 12:00pm-2:00pm
You can find Calvin grad Matt Vriesman '07 teaching history in an East Kentwood High School classroom. His teaching methods may look different, but they've captured the hearts and minds of hundreds of kids. This has earned him high honors as not only the Michigan History Teacher of the Year, but also the National History Teacher of the Year. Dean of Education Brian Bolt sits down with Vriesman to discuss how he shares his love of history to the current generation.
Academic Interests
- Physical activity pedagogy, psychology, and philosophy
- Christianity and sport
Recent Publications and Presentations
Podcast Dig Deep: Sport, Faith, Life
Bolt, B. R. (2018). Sport. Faith. Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin College Press.
Carlson, C., & Bolt, B. R. (2019, February 1). Let the women’s world cup get political. In Christianity Today.
Carlson, C., & Bolt, B. R. (2019, February 1). Leave your righteous indignation on the field. In Christianity Today.
Bolt, B.R. & Carlson, C. (in press). Sports, envy, and the conundrum of comparison. In Hoven, M., Parker, A., & Watson N. J. Christian Practices for Sports: An Introduction. London: Bloomsbury.
Bolt, B. R. (2019). Elijah, sport, and a life of dependence. Invited lecture to St. Johns Lutheran Church annual men’s gathering. Roanoke, VA. January, February.
Watson, N. J., & Bolt, B. R. (2018). From Team Hoyt to I'll Push You: An embodied, prophetic message. In Watson, N.J., Hargaden, K. & Brock, B. (eds.) (2018). Theology, disability and sport: social justice perspectives. London: Routledge.
Bolt, B. R. (2017) Sport and the Christian life: A kinesiologist’s call to action. Invited lecture to Calvin institute for Christian worship, Grand Rapids, MI, May.
Bolt, B. R. (2017). Sport parenting. Invited radio guest (1 hour) on Radio Maria catholic radio, July.
Bolt, B. R. (2016). A Declaration on sport and the Christian life: A call to action. Keynote address to the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport and Christianity, York, UK, August.
Carlson, C. & Bolt, B. R., Zeigler, J. Brower, E. Blackledge, H., & VanWieren, T. (2016). Christianity and the nature of sporting rivalries. Paper presented to the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport and Christianity, York, UK, August.
Bolt, B. R. & Timmer, J. (2015). Are sport and Christianity rivals? Christian Educators Association Convention, Century Center, South Bend, IN, October.
Bolt, B. R. & Timmer, J. (2014). Is there a Reformed perspective on sport? Christian Educators Association Annual Convention, Holland Christian High School, Holland, MI, October.
