About our Associate Pastor for Youth and Children

Rocky and Debbie Coyle

Rev. Rocky Coyle became Antioch’s Associate Pastor for Youth and Children in April 2006 after serving previously as our Interim Pastor.   A modern-day “renaissance man,” his interests range from sports and psychology to drama and Russian literature.   He holds an A.A. degree from Mesa Community College, completed a B. S. in Liberal Arts at Liberty University, and is currently working on his M. S. in counseling with Trinity Theological Seminary. 

Best known for his baseball prowess, Rocky set an Arizona high school record in 1978 with zero strike-outs for the entire season.  In addition, he made High School All-American and was chosen as Arizona’s “High School Player of the Year.”  He went on to win All-American honors at the University of Arizona, and to play professionally seven years with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics minor league clubs.  The highlight of those years was his hitting a ninth-inning home run in 1985 to win the “Huntsville Stars” team its first-ever Southern League championship.   The booster club there still presents an annual award in his honor – known as "The Rocky" – to that player who portrays “the most team spirit, hustle, and love for the game of baseball.” 

In the prime of his career, Rocky left baseball to answer the call to ministry, initially serving as youth minister for a small, inner-city church in Huntsville, Alabama.  Reflecting on that career change, he comments, “Sometimes you have to lay down your personal dream to discover your true purpose in life.”

Positive and outgoing, “Pastor Rocky” is known for “stupid jokes,” for “making things fun,” and for his strong commitment to youth.  “The most important thing,” he says, “is that we help kids avoid ‘striking out’ in life.”  In addition to his duties as Associate Pastor, he is in frequent demand as a speaker, is involved in coaching, and leads youth baseball clinics throughout the area.  He is President of “4 Life Inc.” – a non-profit sports ministry for youth – and also serves on the Board of Directors for “Campus Crossroads” at the University of North Carolina.

Contact our Youth Minister : rocky@4lifeinc.org