ORLANDO, FL – It’s rare for a minute to pass at a lacrosse practice at The First Academy without David Oliver making a sound.
“He can yell but in a loving way,” said Royals senior midfielder Luther Tupponce. “He definitely gets you going.”
“There’s nobody I’ve ever met in my entire life that coaches with more love,” said Royals senior attacker Caleb Whitaker.
For 15 years, TFA has been part of David’s life. For 15 years, he’s given the school everything he has.
“I’ve always wanted to be the best at everything I do,” David said. “I’ve always wanted to have people look at me and go that’s the coach I want to be like.”
That holds true in his coaching and his classroom. David is a longtime Anatomy professor.
“I just like the energy of the students,” he said. “I guess the older I get the younger it makes me feel.”
That energy and charisma goes straight into his lessons.
“I always tell the guys, don’t be a the victim. Always make the difference. Don’t be a victim.
Early July 2019, that message was tested.
“I’m in my house. I’m walking. I took a step and my leg popped. It sounded like a rubber band snapped. I called my friend who is an orthopedic (surgeon) and he said well you know Dave there’s two ways that happens. Triple jumpers and high jumpers and 56-year olds who might have cancer.”
Scans revealed David had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“I was fear stricken. I was anxiety ridden and I was very concerned about my life.
As David began his treatments, he stayed dedicated to his daily routine of teaching and coaching.
“One practice he was telling us about his chemotherapy treatments,” Luther said. “He takes his hair, pulls it out and his hair falls apart. I think we all looked at each other like wow that really hit home for us.”
As his conditioning began to weaken, David found strength in faith and faith in others.
“I prayed and read scripture like never before.”
His spiritual journey was aided by family and friends from The First Academy. For months, the Oliver’s were provided with daily meals, encouraging messages and prayer.
His team took it a step further. They made yellow shirts that read ‘No Hair, Don’t Care.’
“Don’t be afraid to let people help you especially if you’re an X’s and O’s guy like me,” David said. “It’s like I got it and then you realize no I don’t got it. It was a beautiful, beautiful experience to the point where I even said I’m grateful for cancer. Crazy.”
From crazy to clear after his last scan in January.
“Now I feel like I can go out here and change some lives.”
David is back full tilt in the classroom and on the practice field.
“It’s amazing. I love it,” Caleb said. “Missed it.”
David Oliver always lived his life with passion. Now he lives it with passion and perspective.
“I don’t even want to speak it but if cancer does come back, I want to make sure that I’m a better man. That I’m a righteous man and it’s never been so evident in my life.”