Amanda Pence Boren and Blake Boren have deep ties to Alabama Christian Academy and Faulkner University, with Amanda’s connection extending through both athletics and academics, and Blake’s involvement spanning golf and coaching.
Amanda Pence Boren, who attended Alabama Christian Academy from first grade through junior college, was closely connected to the Faulkner Family because her mother, Nannette Pence, worked on campus. This connection influenced Amanda’s decision to attend Faulkner, where she joined the Women’s Soccer team from 2005 to 2009. She reminisced about her time with Coach Brent Mitchell, who managed both the men’s and women’s teams during those early years, and about practices held on a field behind the boys’ dorm. She also fondly recalled “Nerd Practice” under Coach Jon Ireland and the team’s transition to practicing and playing at the YMCA fields in Montgomery. Her final soccer coach, Jeff Ireland, led the team to a standout season with top striker Nikki Jagt. Amanda valued the close-knit friendships formed through soccer and the strong influence of her coaches.
Amanda also worked with the Lady Eagles Basketball Team as a student assistant during the 2010-2011 season. She praised Coach Reed Sutton for his exemplary leadership and the valuable lessons she learned, which she has applied in her teaching and coaching career. She earned her degree in Education with a Physical Education certificate in December 2011 and later obtained a Master’s in Education with a focus on Physical Education in December 2017. Amanda has spent 14 years teaching in Autauga County Schools, first as a high school basketball coach at Marbury High School and now as a teacher at Prattville Primary School. She and her husband Blake have three children: Logan, Brayden, and Conner.
Blake Boren, drawn to Faulkner by its Christian education and its golf program, enrolled in 2005. He played for the Eagles Golf Team from 2005 to 2007 and credited Coach Brent Barker with significantly shaping the program. Blake also served as a student assistant coach for Faulkner Football from 2007 to 2008, gaining valuable experience in college football operations.
Blake’s fondest memories include his time with Amanda and their friends on campus, as well as his involvement in athletics and the social club Tri-Alpha. He appreciated the supportive campus community and enjoyed events such as “Rumble in the Gump” basketball games and spring jamborees. Blake earned his degree in Education with a Physical Education certification in May 2009 and later pursued a Master’s in Education and an Instructional Leadership Pathway for School Administration.
After college, Blake spent 17 years in coaching and recently became the Athletic Director at Prattville High School. Previously, he served as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Montevallo High School. He highlighted his tenure as an Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Faulkner from 2012 to 2017, where the football program achieved significant success, including two conference championships and a top national ranking. Blake reflected on the impact of working with his father, Charlie Boren, Faulkner’s winningest head football coach.
The Boren family remains closely connected to Faulkner, attending athletic events and maintaining friendships with former colleagues. Blake expressed his gratitude for the university’s role in shaping his career and personal life, hoping to impact his students in a similar way.