Dr. Botta has been an educational professional for more than 36 years and has had a strong connection with Regent University for many years, so this is a coming home of sorts for the Botta’s. Before becoming a doctoral fellow and receiving his Ed.D. at Regent University in 2006, Dr. Botta completed his M.Ed. at Regent in 2000 and was the first-ever recipient of the “George W. Selig Fellowship Award.” Dr. Botta also served as the Executive Director and Faculty member for Regent University’s teacher licensure program in 2003-2004 and has been an adjunct faculty member for many years.
In the athletic realm, Botta played high school and college basketball, then transferred his love of athletics into a very successful career coaching high school basketball in New Jersey. During his 13 years as a head varsity basketball coach, Botta led his teams to nine consecutive league championships and nine consecutive 20+ win seasons. Botta guided his teams to seven New Jersey Group III Sectional Championship games, and three New Jersey Group III Sectional Championships. Coach Botta’s teams played in three New Jersey Group III State Championship games and won two Courier Cups as the #1 ranked team in South Jersey. Botta’s 1993 team won the New Jersey Group III State Championship and became the first South Jersey area team to reach the New Jersey “Tournament of Champions” finals. Coach Botta’s teams were ranked as high as #1 in the state of New Jersey and in the top 10 in the USA Today National Rankings. In addition, Botta’s teams were committed to excellence both on the court and in the classroom as his teams were honored with the “Gold Medal of Academic Excellence” in each-and-every-year it was awarded by the State of New Jersey.
Botta’s coaching honors included numerous area, sectional, and state “Coach of the Year” awards. In 1997, Botta was rated the #1 high school basketball coach in New Jersey by the Newark Star-Ledger Reporter. In 1998, Botta was chosen one of the top coaches in the past 20 years in New Jersey and received the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Basketball “Award of Honor.” In 2010, Coach Botta was inducted into the Egg Harbor Township (NJ) Hall of Fame.
Following a successful teaching and coaching career in New Jersey, Dr. Botta’s professional career has included the already mentioned position at Regent University, Assistant National Superintendent at Veritas Sports Academy in North Carolina, and Head of School roles at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson, Tennessee and Lancaster County Christian School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Botta also served as the High School Principal at Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, VA on two separate occasions from 2006-2008 and 2011-2014. From 2012-2014, Botta coached Greenbrier Christian Academy’s boys’ basketball team to the school’s first-ever VA state tournament appearance in the first year and advanced to the state semifinal in Botta’s second year at the helm. Dr. Botta and his wife Lynda of 36 years have four children, Jeff (33), his wife Kelly and Bria (4), Danny (30) and Sarah, Brett (27) and Zoe, and Scott (24).
Over the years, Botta has spoken to hundreds of coaches at numerous camps, clinics, and conferences, discussing the topic of “Winning with Character,” the title of his doctoral dissertation. During the research phase of his dissertation, Botta spent considerable time with legendary Coach John Wooden, who became a good friend and advisor, and whose principles are integral to Botta’s athletic philosophy. Botta comes to Regent University with a strong and extensive administrative and athletic background and ready to lead Regent Royal Athletics into the future. Botta’s desire is to continue to motivate and train leaders, and, particularly coaches and student-athletes to become the very best they can be, so that they in turn, will have a positive and lasting impact on our culture. Dr. Botta’s passion is to have Regent University’s Athletic Program represent Jesus Christ in such a powerful way that young men and women become Christian leaders who are equipped and prepared to change the world.
