St. Louis, Mo. – Cottey College volleyball coach Marla Kannady Foreman has been selected as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Coach of Character.
 
The Coach of Character award is given annually to a head coach of an AMC institution who has been outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character® initiative by deliberately teaching character to his/her student-athletes through sport.
 
Criteria:

• Must be a head coach of the AMC institution and been employed by the institution for a minimum of three years.
• Must be clearly outstanding in:
  • Embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative.
  • Methods to deliberately define, model, shape and reinforce character to his/her student-athletes within the coaching environment including any Live 5 program implementation.

 
Marla Kannady Foreman, Cottey College
Kannady Foreman has been the volleyball coach at Cottey for 24 years. Her leadership and embrace of the NAIA Champions of Character® initiative extend beyond the volleyball court and her team; they are seen and felt department-wide.
 
Always willing to help, but as a self-starter she often recognizes a need and fills that need before being asked.  She initiated the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle at Cottey and serves on the committees for the athletics department's fundraisers (the Cottey 5K Run and Swing for the Green Golf Tournament).
 
Kannady Foreman carries high expectations for her student-athletes to be a good person, which in turn helps the team as a whole become better teammates.  She speaks often about integrity and how that reflects on them even when no one is watching.  She has a weekly award of significance that recognizes an athlete who demonstrates good character in academics, athletics, community and team related activities.
 
Her team was recognized with the Cottey Athletics Department Community Service Award, amassing 408 hours of community service this year. Her team has also excelled in the classroom, with a team grade point average of 3.625.
 
What they said
Staley Stallaby, Cottey senior volleyball student-athlete
"Coach Marla Foreman consistently displays the character traits of the NAIA five core values. Because of her example, I have learned how to be a better leader, athlete, and student. Coach Foreman has portrayed integrity in her work by openly communicating with her players. She displays respect by talking to her players in a manner that makes them feel honored and not like they are being talked down to. She is responsible because she always gets her work done ahead of time. She is one of the hardest-working people I know. Coach Foreman has been such an inspiration to me these past 3 years. I am sure she has been for other players as well."
 
Ashleigh Miller, Cottey assistant volleyball coach and former student-athlete
"I've had the pleasure of knowing Coach Foreman since 2008 when I played for her while in attendance at Cottey College. Being an athlete under her coaching philosophy touched on every aspect of our five core values today that we represent through the NAIA. I've been grateful to now work under Coach Forman for the past eight seasons. Her servant leadership for this college and everyone she surrounds herself with is unmatchable. She holds herself to a higher standard that I'm humbled to aim for achievement every day. Everyone needs a Marla Foreman in their corner when she exemplifies the five core values in her work life but also her personal life."
 
Dr. Maryann Mitts, Cottey director of athletics
"During the past 24 years, Coach Marla Foreman has been and continues to be the epitome of the Champions of Character model. Through her daily interactions with student-athletes, colleagues and the community, Marla teaches character through sport. Her thoughts, words and actions display the integrity we seek as we hire coaches into the NAIA and her ability to notice the world outside herself and her program is quite admirable."
 
Next:
Kannady Foreman is now eligible for the NAIA Coach of Character Award; the winner will be announced during the NAIA National Awards Day on September 15 and recognized at the 2025 NAIA Convention Awards Luncheon.