Bethel Coach To Receive The Gift Of Life

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (WCCO) – As a quarterback, Scott Kirchoff led his Hutchinson High School team to a state title.

He took his winner's mentality to Bethel, where he won consistently.

"We had the opportunity to win the MIAC championship, I think, two out of the four years that I that played. Always ended against St. John's, so that rivalry was a huge thing," said Kirchoff.

Kirchoff remained at Bethel, becoming a quarterback's coach, and working for the man he played for, who continues to tutor him.

"Playing for Coach Johnson, and then seeing how he is behind the scenes, it's amazing how that guy operates, in how he continues to give and give and give in attitude in being grateful. And that's a theme we want to run throughout our program," he said.

He also met, fell in love, and married Bethel's volleyball coach Megan Kirchoff. But just four months into their marriage, Scott was diagnosed with kidney failure.

"It was kind of shocking just in the sense of you never anticipate having kidney failure when you're 31 years old," he said.

The quarterback needed help, but it didn't take long to find it. His sister, Amy Christensen, was a match for a transplant.

"How he broke it to me was, 'I am in kidney failure. Do you have a kidney to give me?'…And I said, 'Yep, sign me up,'" laughed Amy. "Right from the get-go, I never thought twice about it. I wanted to know how to sign up."

Scott and Amy have been close for a long time, and her willingness created an interesting dynamic of emotion.

"All along I had a sense of peace as a result of it, just knowing that Amy's thought about it, and she's prayed about it, and she feels good about it. For me, initially I was super guilty," he said.

Today they play with Scott's niece and Amy's daughter Emma. But in the back of their minds is a hopeful transplant operation in early September.

Although both are scared, their bond is one built of siblings with a love and admiration for one another.

"Dating back to high school, and even elementary school, it's just funny because Amy and I have had a bond, just going through family stuff, going through personal stuff," he said.

"He has a lot of fans, but I'm his biggest fan," laughed Amy.