On Tuesday, May 19, North Greenville University men's basketball coach Chad Lister was awarded the Milestone Award at the Conference Carolinas annual banquet, an honor that is presented to deserving coaches and administrators that have made a long-standing impact with Conference Carolinas.
 
"Coach Lister embodies everything North Greenville University stands for. Through his impact on and off the court, there is no one more deserving of the Milestone Award," stated NGU Associate Athletic Director Josh Milner, who joined the Trailblazers men's basketball staff 14 years ago under Coach Lister's Leadership. "While he is the ultimate competitor who hates to lose, his greatest legacy is the Kingdom impact he has made.  His ability to build lasting relationships and treat everyone with genuine care and respect is truly uncommon." 
 
Lister's coaching tenure has proven why he is deserving of such an award.
 
Lister joined the North Greenville program in 2002, just a year after the school entered NCAA Division II as an independent school. During his first few years at NGU, the team was a part of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), where the team was very successful. Over the nine years in the NCCAA, he led the team to the postseason tournament four times and made the championship in 2010 and 2011. In the team's final year as an independent, Lister was honored with the NCAA Division II Independents Coach of the Year award.
 
In the 2011-12 season, NGU moved into Division II athletics and joined Conference Carolinas. Since joining the conference, Lister has led the Trailblazers to the Conference Carolinas Tournament eight times, winning it in 2015, and most recently winning the Northwest Division regular season championship in 2026. 
 
Across his time at NGU, Lister has been responsible for three Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year winners (most recently Carter Bobbitt in 2025-26), 13 All-Conference team players, and two All-Defensive team players (All-Defensive team introduced in the 2024-25 season).
 
The 2014-15 season was not only special for the team, but for the entire NGU program as it was the first time the school made the NCAA DII Tournament. Led by seniors Micah Parker, LaShawn Alexander, and Philip Brown, along with freshman Spencer Reaves, the then Crusaders finished 22-10 overall and 12-8 in conference. This record placed them as the three seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Bracket. After defeating Barton College and King University, NGU made it to their first conference championship against No. 9 Mt. Olive. 
 
Former NGU assistant coach (2011-2015) Jimmie Williams, now head coach at Campbell University, recounted the final moments of the game in detail.  
"The game went back and forth the entire time and came down to the last possession. Tied up [with] 10 seconds to go, freshman Spencer Reaves had the ball at the top," described Williams. 
 
He continued by explaining how the conference's defensive player of the year was guarding Reaves and how the "season and making history [lied] in the hands of a teenager being guarded by a grown man. [Reaves] attacks the rim and draws a reach foul, sending him to the free throw line with 3 seconds to go. We are on pins and needles." 
 
"As long as I live, I will never forget what happened next," said Williams. "Spencer [Reaves] looks at Coach Lister and says, 'Do you want me to make both [free throws], or just the first and miss the second?' Missing was not an option or a fear. He made both, and we won the conference tournament and punched our ticket to the NCAA tournament." The final score was 68-66. 
 
This was the first time in NGU history that they made the NCAA tournament in any sport. 
 
 
"That's how Coach Lister leads," Williams described. "He instills confidence and belief in his players and staff, which allows them to flourish in life's biggest moments." 
 
Lister has recently completed his 24^th season as head coach of the men's basketball team. The Trailblazers opened the season defeating Division I Gardner-Webb University 92-81, and upsetting No. 16 Columbus State 58-57, later that same week. The team finished the season 18-11 and won the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division title. By the end of the season, NGU finished with the best defense in the conference. 
 
For many of those who have played for and worked with Lister, what separates him from others is his relationship with his players.
 
Former player (2009-2013) and assistant coach (2015-2018), Jamaal Pryor explained the difference, saying, "Just the love he has for his players, it doesn't matter if you were there for a semester or for years, he'll always show love and help in any way he can. He doesn't treat his players like transactions; he treats them like family, and that's something that stays with you long after basketball."
 
Pryor shared a story that he still remembers to this day. "Coach Lister called me into his office, sat me down in that red chair that's probably been there for 20 years, and told me I needed to be mindful of who I was hanging around." Pryor reflected on this lesson by stating, "Honestly, if Coach Lister never sat me down for that conversation, I probably wouldn't have finished my basketball career or received my undergraduate and master's degree from NGU." 
 
Key starter on the 2015 championship team, Lashawn Alexander shared the impact Lister had on him saying, "Coach Lister impacts my life on the daily with his key habits! Coach Lister embraced my flaws, and showed me the true leader I was able to become. He also taught me humility and kindness which are both important values I carry every day." 
 
While his on-court achievement shows his ability as a coach, what stands out is his reputation off the court as a man who puts family first.
 
Williams stated, "I believe wholeheartedly that you can be an excellent coach, while being an excellent husband and father. I know you can because I saw him [Lister] do it. I will always be grateful that I got to spend four years in his office watching how he leads. But what I am the most grateful for, is that I saw him go home."
 
He continued by explaining: "When he goes home, he goes home. He has an off switch. When he goes home, his family gets the best of him. They get his energy and his attention and his belief. All of his players get to see what a great husband and father look like."
 
Pryor summarized this lesson he learned from Lister by saying, "Family is important. You can sometimes get lost in basketball and even in your job [or] career, but making time for family is what keeps you grounded and reminds you what truly matters in life. Success means a lot more when you have the people you love beside you to share it with." 
 
With North Greenville University's motto being "Christ Makes the Difference," for almost a quarter century, Coach Lister has been the embodiment of what NGU strives to represent.
 
Former NGU player (1999-2005) Devin Liferidge stated, "I've always admired Chad's ability to reflect Christ through both the highest highs and the lowest lows. His leadership and character are evident not only on the sidelines, but also in his community and at home." 
 
Williams explained a similar idea, "North Greenville has a coach that aligns with the values of the institution. He is a great coach that focuses on building and growing the person and the player. He cares more about their futures than their stats."
 
While it is clear that Coach Chad Lister has made an impact on the court, what is most remembered is the life lessons he instilled in his players. Former NGU player (2005-2007) Amonzo Gantt summed it up best: "Long after the final buzzer sounded, the values he poured into us continue to guide our steps. Coach Lister doesn't just build athletes—he helps build men."