Dr. Bill Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, will deliver a talk entitled, “The Christian Vision of Sports,” to the students and faculty of Christendom College on Monday, October 27. Part of the college’s Major Speakers Program, the talk is open to the public and will be held in the St. Lawrence Commons at 6 p.m.
Born and raised in New York City, Thierfelder attained his master’s and doctorate in Sports Psychology and Human Movement from Boston University. He is also a licensed psychologist and a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychological Specialties. Thierfelder has been involved in athletics for most of his life, being a former NCAA Division I coach, a participant in the 1980 United States Olympic Trials and a medalist in the 1981 U.S. Track and Field Indoor National Championship.
Before becoming president of Belmont Abbey, Thierfelder worked in the sports field in a variety of capacities. He led the York Barbell Company, helped found and develop the physical therapy corporation Joyner Sports Medicine Institute, and served as Executive Director of the Player Management Group, a sports representation company that provides services to professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL.
Thierfelder has also been a leader in the field of religious liberty, testifying before Congress on this issue and filing the first lawsuit against the federal government over the HHS health care mandate.
In 2013, Thierfelder authored a book based on his experiences in the sports field entitled, “Less Than a Minute to Go.” He is a Knight of Malta and lives outside of Charlotte, N.C., with his wife, Mary, and ten children.
Christendom College’s Major Speakers Program is an important aspect of the academic life at the College, offering the students and community an opportunity for cultural, intellectual, and spiritual enrichment beyond the classroom. The program offers students the opportunity to gain greater insights and depth of understanding of important issues, and to interact personally with a wide range of men and women who are shapers and critics of our society.