About Us
Athletes in Action is a CRU ministry that focuses on impacting collegiate athletes around the world to use their platform as a way to point others to Christ and use sport as an avenue to grow in their faith. At Georgia Southern, we aim to bridge the gap between collegiate athletes and the local church.
Every staff member of The Athletes in Action Georgia Southern chapter are alumni from various sports. The shared athletic background and understanding of the sport strengthen the relationships among coaches, athletes, and staff. Each staff member has been influenced by mentors or teammates and is dedicated to paying that impact forward.
Matt & Colleen Wise
CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Matt and Colleen’s story began at Georgia Southern University, where both competed as student-athletes from 2004–2007—Colleen on the Eagles soccer team and Matt on the football team. During those years, the Lord began shaping a shared calling to serve and minister to the Georgia Southern athletic community long after their playing days were over. Since 2009, Matt has faithfully served as the football chaplain for the Eagles, walking alongside players, coaches, and staff with a shepherd’s heart and a deep desire to see lives transformed by Christ. In 2014, Colleen officially joined him on staff, investing in the lives of female student-athletes, supporting the ministry administratively, and faithfully nurturing their greatest ministry at home as they raise their four precious daughters—Hope, Kennedy, Berkley, and Camryn. As Campus Director, Matt leads with a servant’s spirit, authentic care, and a passion to challenge and encourage student-athletes and coaches to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, live with purpose as they live out the great commission to make disciples who make disciples!
Jeremy & Holland Gay
Full-Time Staff
While in college, AIA played a vital role in Jeremy and Holland’s spiritual lives and challenged them to be bold in their faith with their swim and baseball teammates. Around 2023, they joined AIA staff to serve in ministry. Holland began working full-time fall of ‘23, while Jeremy joined part-time while finishing his degree and soon after joined full-time spring of ‘25. Now, Jeremy serves predominantly with the baseball and golf team, but helps with all men’s sports while Holland is the Women’s Ministry Leader and chaplain of the Volleyball team. In September of ‘25, Holland and Jeremy got married and they love being able to serve, love, and disciple the student-athletes side-by-side. They desire to see young followers of Christ grow to love the Lord more and more each day.
Jeremy.gay@athletesinaction.org
706.871.3114
holland.danskin@athletesinaction.org
678.634.0904
Izzy Ptacek
PART-TIME STAFF
Izzy is from Cumming, GA and just completed her collegiate career as a track and cross country athlete of 5 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern and is completing her master’s in Communication and Leadership in May ‘26! Izzy first got involved with AIA during her junior year at Georgia Southern, where the ministry’s presence on campus planted seeds and drew her to Christ. She led a team Bible study and was a student leader for 3 years, until she joined the staff team of GS AIA. Izzy is passionate about serving and loving the young women God has put in her life, and enjoys walking alongside them as they grow in their faith.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
Izzy.ptacek@athletesinaction.org
770.685.0618
Ethan Dirrim
PART-TIME STAFF
Ethan is from Canton, GA and played on the GS football team for 3 seasons and just recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During his junior season he started getting involved with AIA as a student leader, and later discerned the calling of God to work in ministry full time. Ethan is now working with AIA as part-time staff and also as the youth director at a local church. He enjoys building up the body of believers at GS and being bold with his faith for the expansion of the Kingdom of God!
ethan.dirrim@athletesinaction.org
770.883.8262
Micah Herriman
PART-TIME STAFF
Micah is a local pastor in Statesboro that has been serving as the Chaplain for the Men’s Basketball Team. In 2023 Micah and Matt were invited to co-lead pregame devotions for the teams home games. Through relationship building, God opened the door to have significantly more involvement with the team including Team Culture Meetings, starting a Team Bible Study, having weekly discipleship with Coach Henry, and intentionally investing in coaches and players to Win them to Christ, Build them up in the faith, and Send them out as spiritual leaders to use their platform for God’s glory. Micah is on part-time staff with AIA in order to have the resources to increase his availability with the team and maximize the influence that God has given him for kingdom growth.
Micah.Herriman@athletesinaction.org
706.872.9328
JJ Puccio
VOLUNTEER STAFF
JJ has been married to his wife Alice for 23 years and is a proud father to his 22-year-old daughter Kaylee. He has been a State Farm Agency owner for 10 years. Outside of work, he finds fulfillment in serving in his church as well as with AIA, where he believes in the transformative power of changing lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. jj loves serving with AIA and leading discipleship groups, because he can actively see the Gospel transform lives right in front of his eyes. He has a passion for helping others, which is fulfilled through his career and his service to his church and AIA.
912.536.1796
Theresa Hackle
VOLUNTEER STAFF
Theresa was told that there are two important things to love in order to be on staff with AIA: One is a love for the Lord, the other is a love for Georgia Southern. For her, she had a great love for both, which made her involvement come naturally! Theresa has worked on the advisory team with her husband, Allan, since 2010. Around 2019, Theresa joined volunteer staff. She enjoys seeing the coaches come together for bible study and she admires the courage the student-athletes have to proclaim their faith whether on the field praying or leading discipleship groups.
912.536.6032