FCA Roanoke Valley
To lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.
MEET OUR TEAM
Leo Bruno
Area Director
Leo is a basketball coach with over 20 years of experience and a passion for making a positive impact on young lives. His career has taken him from Brazil to India, where we worked with players from youth to professional levels. He's also led coach development programs in both countries, including a two-year engagement with NBA international initiatives, such as Jr. NBA and NBA Basketball School. In India, Leo served as the National Director for the NBA Basketball School. He is also a member of the USA's National Association of Basketball Coaches, serving in its International Committee since 2017.
For the past two years, Leo has called the United States home. He was on the church staff at Bedrock Community Church for approximately one year and served as volunteer Assistant Coach at Jefferson Forest High School for one season.
In October 2023, Leo joined FCA as the South Roanoke Valley Area Director, being responsible for FCA's presence in Roanoke County, Roanoke City, and Franklin County. His mission is to ENGAGE, EQUIP and EMPOWER this generation through sports and faith, creating a lasting impact in the lives of coaches and athletes.
Leo and his wife Rebecca married at her hometown Roanoke, VA in 2017. Rebecca is currently the Program Director at The Lampstand, Virginia's safe home for trafficked and exploited teenage girls.
Mark Long
Area RepresentativeandDirector of FCA Endurance
Mark is a passionate follower of Christ, endurance athlete, and seasoned ministry leader with a heart for discipleship and sharing the Gospel through endurance sports. He committed his life to Christ in 1988 and has since dedicated himself to living out his faith through service, sport, and leadership.
Mark has been on staff with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for 12 years. He has served as Multi-Area Director for Virginia and is currently the Director of FCA Endurance. His ministry has focused on developing resources and equipping FCA Endurance huddles and Teammates throughout the country. He facilitates small group discipleship and men’s Bible studies, where he encourages spiritual growth, accountability, and community among men of all ages.
For nearly two decades, he has served on the board of FOCUS Ministries, a Christ-centered outreach founded by former pro basketball player Bay Forrest. Coming from a business background, Mark has over 35 years of experience in sales, marketing, and strategic business development, working across the U.S. and internationally.
Mark is a seasoned endurance athlete, but his love and passion is for his Lord and his family. Mark and his wife, Debby, have been married 38 years. They have 3 grown daughters and 2 grandchildren.
His favorite scriptures include Philippians 4:4–9 and Ephesians 3:20–21, which reflect his belief in God’s power to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—both in life and in ministry.
Greg Miller
Area Representative
Gregory is a native of Knoxville, Illinois. He attended Mount Michael Benedictine High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska where he was a multi-sport athlete that earned varsity letters in football, basketball and track. He attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois where he earned his bachelor’s degree while lettering in wrestling.
Gregory also holds a master’s degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. Gregory is an Ordained Bishop in the Church of God, Cleveland, TN.
He has dedicated over 23 years to developing teams and equipping lay leaders in the church. After 19 years of volunteer ministry, God called him to serve as Associate/Student Pastor at Celebration Church in Roanoke, VA beginning in 2015. Gregory’s passion is to build a gospel-advancing ministry through the lens of FCA.
His primary calling in life is to his wife, Sunny. Greg and Sunny are also blessed with two daughters (Eliana and Alexia) and one son (Hunter).
Kendrick Gholston
Area Representative
Kendrick was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He went to high school at Lane Technical High (4000 students). He is one of four children. His parents are Mary and Aaron Gholston.
He had the honor of playing football at the University of Louisville in
Louisville, KY.
A few accomplishments during his collegiate career were:
- All-American Candidate
- Three-time All-Conference Player
- Mel Kiper Top Ten Defensive End (Senior Year)
- Top five All-Time Sack Leader in School History
God then opened the door for
Kendrick to play football for four years in the NFL…one year in the CFL and three years in the AFL. He really valued his time spent playing the sport
he loves in the professional world.
He is happily married to his wife, Nicole. Together, they have been blessed with two children, Adiah and Joshua. Adiah attends Virginia Tech and is in the Honors College. Josh is a student-athlete/DECA student at
Blacksburg High School. Kendrick is a proud father to his children!
Abby Oliver
Area Representative
Abby Oliver was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She grew up playing many sports, but the sport she loved the most and specialized in was basketball. She played basketball at Hidden Valley High School from 2004-2008. During her Junior and Senior seasons, her team won back-to-back state championships. After graduating high school, Abby went to play division one college basketball at the University of Richmond. She was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024. After graduating college in 2012, Abby was blessed with the opportunity to play professional basketball which was always a dream and a goal of hers. She played professional basketball overseas in Israel.
When Abby’s basketball playing career was over, she got into coaching at the high school and college level. She was on the Radford University Women’s Basketball coaching staff as the Director of Basketball Operations from 2013-2015. She also has been a varsity girl's basketball assistant coach for her alma mater, Hidden Valley High School.
Abby’s testimony involves her putting basketball ahead of a relationship with Jesus Christ. She shoved God aside, ran away from Him, and instead ran to basketball. However, God didn’t run away from her, He ran after her. After her basketball career was finished, God captured her heart and she gave her life to Christ. Since then, God has radically transformed her life for the better. Her life with Jesus is far better and more abundant than anything she could have ever imagined, and it is a life that basketball never came close to giving her. She loves working with athletes and coaches to help them know and grow in Jesus Christ and help them not go down the same road she did of putting sports and other things ahead of Jesus.
Beth Crompton
Administrative AssistantRoanoke Valley and FCA-Endurance
Beth is a committed disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and seeks to bring Him glory in all she does. Beth trusted in Christ for salvation as an adult and has cherished her faith journey with the Lord for the past 25 years.
Beth played NCAA field hockey and soccer at Lock Haven University and West Chester University. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology and master's degree in counseling. She has coached basketball, field hockey and tennis for 10+ years.
Beth enjoyed her primary role as a wife and full-time homemaker during the years while raising her children. Very fun and busy years! She was blessed to serve with MOPS, Shepherds Seminary and her church in various capacities such as teaching, evangelism, mission trip/event planning, and administration.
As her children grew, Beth was able to fuse her passion for Christ and sport in coaching primarily tennis. This was a special time discipling youth (and her kids). She always started off the year stating her goal in growing all the athletes into a closer relationship with Christ. Oh, and that they would all learn a little tennis along the way too!
Although Beth has been a life-long athlete, she did not know about FCA in her younger years. She became an FCA-Endurance Huddle Leader in 2023 and began a new season of life – empty nesting and triathlon training. God has been faithful in all the new adventures.
She loves bringing the message of the GOOD NEWS to her training and racing through FCA-Endurance. From small group discipleship, training events, booths at races, FCA gear – she hopes the light within her reflects the love of her Savior to the Endurance World. #AFGG!
Beth and her husband, Dan, have been married for 28 amazing years and are parents to 3 grown children, Daniel (and wife, Aven), Matthew and Lizzy.
PO BOX 873 Vinton, VA 24179
Anytime I get to praise the Lord or study His Word (especially in school) I will do it ; so FCA gives me that opportunity. Our student leaders, adult staff, and volunteers here at WBHS over the last 5 years or so have been amazing! This is what encourages me as a huddle leader!
Rusty Galbreath
William Byrd High School Huddle Leader
OUR BUSINESS & CHURCH PARTNERS
