Dave Canales, the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers, has a unique faith-based writing project on his resum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with his wife, Lizzy, Canales is the author of a book about how religion can help you navigate life\u2019s challenges, including infidelity and binge drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe book \u2018This Marriage? The Question That Changed Everything<\/a>\u2019 … details how the 42-year-old coach has worked to overcome his problems and (how) the couple found its way back to a healthy, Christian-based marriage,\u201d according to\u00a0The Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In their book, Dave and Lizzy Canales explore Dave Canales\u2019 struggles with alcohol, pornography and sex, and how those challenges affected their marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They explain in the book that they wrote it with the goal of helping other couples and with the knowledge that publishing it could limit how high Canales could rise in the NFL\u2019s coaching ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe wanted other people to feel safe starting this journey toward a vibrant marriage by helping them see they are not alone,\u201d per The Associated Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book was published in September 2022, and it didn\u2019t take long to see that it wouldn\u2019t actually hold Canales back from new NFL opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2023, he was hired to be the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then, about a year later, was picked by the Carolina Panthers to serve as head coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A team representative confirmed to The Associated Press that the Panthers were aware of the book before extending the job offer to Canales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before being hired by the Panthers, Canales spent one season as offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay. He earned praise for helping quarterback Baker Mayfield find a new gear and helping the team win the NFC South.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s an unbelievable guy,\u201d Mayfield said<\/a> of Canales during last week\u2019s NFL Pro Bowl festivities. \u201cSomebody that is truly authentic and optimistic about everything … it\u2019s rare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From 2010-2011, Canales was with the Seattle Seahawks serving in various offensive coaching positions, according to his bio on the Panthers website<\/a>. \u201cHe helped the organization to 10 playoff appearances, two conference championships and a Super Bowl XLVIII title,\u201d the article noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before 2010, Canales coached at the collegiate and high school level. Over the course of six seasons, he went from serving as offensive coordinator for Carson High School, his alma mater, to working as an assistant strength coach for USC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canales entered the coaching world after wrapping up his own playing career in college. He was a wide receiver for Azusa Pacific University, an evangelical Christian school in southern California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canales is a native of Carson, California, per the Panthers website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even before Canales enrolled at Azusa Pacific, faith was a big part of his life. His grandparents planted a church in Carson in 1959, and, along with his parents, planted a love of God in him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey … instilled faith in Jesus through hard times,\u201d Canales told<\/a> a staff writer for the Bucs last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While his brother became a pastor and went on to lead the church that his grandparents founded, Canales determined that he was meant to serve God on the football field. In that 2023 interview, he described how he tries to embody religious values as a coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI learned that wherever I go, to meet the most basic needs that my immediate community needs from me. That is the cornerstone of how Lizzy and I bring all that we are to the Buccaneers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lizzy Canales told the Bucs writer that faith helps explain why her husband is so good at connecting with players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe will come home and say, \u2018Wow. I had a conversation today and it was just a total God thing. I was late from the sauna because I ran into so-and-so, and he opened up to me.\u2019 Dave is in the moment, fully engaged and right there with you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The coach sometimes references his faith in his posts to X, the site formerly known as Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up, and get ready to rise,\u201d\u00a0Canales posted<\/a>\u00a0on June 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConquering infidelity and pornography addiction with faith<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dave Canales\u2019 coaching background<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dave Canales\u2019 religion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n