Crenshaw Christian Center honored one of its own on Sunday, June 26, in the person of G. Michael Lynch, husband, father, friend, former police officer and detective, and highly revered basketball coach.
Now retired, Coach Lynch is relocating his family to Atlanta.
Citing Romans 13:7, which says to give honor to whom honor is due, Crenshaw president and CEO Angela Evans introduced a resolution citing Coach Lynch as an exemplary role model.
In 1996, he was hired as CCC basketball coach, an ultimately took the program to 10 Southern California Section championships and four state championships. After retiring from the LAPD, Coach Lynch became manager of security at CCC in 1999. His wife, Rebecca, or simply Becky, was also employed at the church for several years.
Coach Lynch is considered one of the most successful coaches in the history of California’s high school basketball program. During his 26 years of coaching, 19 with Crenshaw High and seven years with La Salle High of Pasadena, he led the teams to a total of 626 wins.
Mrs. Evans read a resolution citing Coach Lynch as an exemplary role model, both as a husband and father. The Lynches have a son, Michael, and twin daughters, Angel and Ashley. Both Coach and Becky Lynch are founding members of Price Christian Schools. Each of the Lynch children attended the schools and went on to graduate from college.
Pastor Frederick K. Price Jr. read resolutions from both Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Congresswoman Maxine Waters of the 26th congressional district.
Mrs. Evans also read a special commendation from James T. Butts Jr., mayor of the city of Inglewood, where the Lynches lived.
LAPD Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard told the congregants that he had watched Coach Lynch’s career and noted his impact in community. “The kids that he’s coached aren’t the kids I have had to deal with,” he said.
Officer Woodyard described a coach as one who has carries precious cargo to another location and said that Coach Lynch had done that with the youth he has coached.
“This man, Lynch, stands among the giants,” Rob Wigod of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) told the congregation, saying it was awesome to be at the service. He announced that Coach Lynch had been selected as a member of the Hall of Fame of the CIF Southern Section and awarded a Gold Life Pass.
“He doesn’t just coach kids,” Mr. Wigod noted. “He coaches men.” He said Coach Lynch “had been a blessing to this place,” apparently meaning Crenshaw.
The ministry through Pastor Frederick sowed financially into the Lynches.
Visibly moved and appreciative, Coach Lynch told the June 26, Sunday gathering, “I am so humbled and honored. I never ever saw any of this coming. I was just trying to get through 26 years. I have to say this: My man of God, Apostle Price, taught us the faith message, and that message is a direct result of everything I have experienced over these 26 years. Without that message none of this happens.
“I used what he taught – the faith message – and I coached faith. I didn’t realize that until many years after I got started that I was just coaching faith. The game of basketball was just the carrot, but it’s the faith message that caused the result. Thank you all very much.”
