A Legacy of Leadership: Dr. Blake Flickner Named 2025 DBU Staff Member of the Year

During the annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon this semester, Dr. Blake Flickner, Head Coach of Men's Basketball, was named the 2025 Staff Member of the Year. This esteemed recognition celebrates Dr. Flickner's unwavering commitment to servant leadership, his transformative impact on student-athletes, and his embodiment of DBU's mission to integrate faith and learning.

When Dr. Flickner joined DBU in 2005, he brought more than strategy and skill to the court, he brought vision. "I entered coaching because I saw it as an opportunity to be active in the Great Commission while being involved in the sport that I love," he explained. "It's the relationships with young men and watching them grow in their faith that really keeps me going."

This desire to coach with purpose is what drew him to DBU, and what has inspired him to stay for the past 20 years. Through his leadership, the Patriots have achieved numerous milestones, including multiple conference championships and, most recently, their first-ever NCAA Division II Final Four appearance in 2025.

But Dr. Flickner's legacy reaches far beyond wins and banners. His intentional approach to Christian discipleship has shaped generations of student-athletes who carry the values of faith, hard work, and servant leadership well beyond the basketball court.

Though his title has remained the same, Dr. Flickner has watched the basketball program and DBU itself grow immensely. "It has been a fun journey to watch the athletic department and student life flourish," he reflects. "It's so fun to be on campus on a Friday night and see the number of students actively involved all over campus."

The Staff Member of the Year award is presented annually to a staff member who exemplifies exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to DBU's mission. Dr. Flickner's selection is a celebration of his unwavering devotion to mentoring student-athletes, his active participation in the broader DBU community, and his consistent integration of faith into his professional life.

Reflecting on the honor, Dr. Flickner shared, "This is a pretty incredible honor and such a special recognition. There are so many people who pour their hearts out on this campus for our students and our community. Many never get the public recognition they deserve, and it is humbling to be singled out in this way. I am so thankful for Dr. Wright and DBU. This university has meant so much to my family and me for the past twenty years. The students and the people we get to work with every day are what make DBU so special."

He regularly contributes to initiatives like the Friday Symposium, speaking on topics such as integrating Christian faith into athletics and leadership. Whether coaching, teaching, or speaking, Dr. Flickner's approach always centers on servant leadership and spiritual growth.

His colleague, Dr. Mike Williams, has even been a source of encouragement to him over the years, offering timely notes of affirmation. "Those kinds of relationships are what make this place so special," Dr. Flickner notes.

At the heart of DBU's mission is a desire to develop Christ-centered servant leaders, and Dr. Flickner has consistently embodied this mission, both professionally and personally. "DBU is a very family-friendly campus. It's been a joy to include my family in what happens at 'work,'" he says.

DBU has also strengthened his own walk of faith. "It is so encouraging to be around other like-minded people where the peer pressure is to do what's right and to honor the Lord in everything," he shares. "I love going to church with other faculty, staff, and students."

As he reflects on his time at DBU, Dr. Flickner speaks with the wisdom of experience and the heart of a servant leader. For those just beginning their journey on campus, he encourages a deeper investment, not just in the work, but in the people and the mission. He advises new faculty and staff to "invest in the community," reminding them that DBU is more than a workplace. "Don't view DBU as a place to just clock in and clock out," he says. "Get plugged in."

Looking back, he would tell his younger self much the same. In the midst of building programs, forming relationships, and pursuing excellence, he would offer a gentle reminder to pause and take it all in: "Enjoy the journey."

When asked about the legacy he hopes to leave, Dr. Flickner doesn't list accolades or accomplishments. Instead, he points to the values that have guided him throughout his two decades on campus, a quiet, unwavering dedication to "integrity, discipleship, hard work, and perseverance." These principles, lived out day by day, define his lasting impact on the DBU community.

In addition to Dr. Flickner being named DBU's Staff Member of the Year, he was also named 2024-2025 NABC South Central Region District Coach of the Year, and the Small Basketball Coach of the Year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches for the 2024-2025 season.