Faculty Feature: Kiel Boynton

Kiel Boynton, assistant professor of kinesiology and associate head baseball coach, has been able to merge his passions for teaching and baseball at Bethel University. In fact, one of his favorite classes to teach – Administration and Organization – just put on a baseball benefit game at Four Winds Field, where the Bethel Pilots took on IUSB, raising money for local veterans through an organization called Troop Town.

“The students get hands-on experience working toward something and giving to an organization. This year we raised $3,250 for Mishawaka Troop Town,” he says.

This is the third year his class has put on a benefit; two years ago, they raised $1,540 for Belle’s Brigade (for a child with cancer), and last year they raised $2,100 for Ella Hunt (a local teen with spinal muscular atrophy).

Boynton originally came to Bethel to coach in 2015, while he was also worship director at Grace Church. In 2022, a position in sport management opened up, which led him to where he is today.

Working hard and helping others comes second-nature to Boynton, who has lived with Cerebral Palsy his entire life, but hasn’t let it hold him back. He credits his success, in part, to his parents, who treated him normally and encouraged him to pursue his passions, including football, baseball and basketball.

“I grew up with the mentality to always push myself and strive to be my best. My Cerebral Palsy is mild but all the muscles on the right side of my body are weaker,” he explains. “I’m right-handed, was a pitcher and use my right leg to drive. I always felt like I had to work twice as hard just to be an average athlete.”

Despite his challenges, Boynton pitched on scholarship for Cedarville University, a D2 baseball program, and thought he would pursue sports marketing. However, after college, a position opened up to coach at Cedarville and he knew that’s where he belonged.

“Once I started coaching, I realized I really loved it. As I’ve become older, I’ve realized the impact a coach has on players. I think that’s why I like teaching too. I really came full circle.”

One of Boynton’s favorite things about Bethel is that it’s evangelical – students must live by the lifestyle covenant but they don’t have to sign a statement of faith to come here. That opens up opportunities to share the Gospel and disciple students.

“I was a part of seeing one of my players accept Christ in the locker room. I never got to experience that [before Bethel]. That’s one thing that stands out most to me.”

In the classroom, Boynton is thankful he can openly share about his faith and finds it’s something that helps him connect with his students. Outside of the classroom, he also helps lead worship at St. Mark Missionary Church. He and his wife, Faith, have been married since 2008 and have three children: Parker (16), Aubrie (7) and Kylie (3).

“I love music. I love leading worship. I’ve been a worship leader since I graduated college. I’m a big supporter of being involved in church – being involved in ministry.”

Whether through teaching, coaching or leading worship, Boynton is pointing students toward Christ.