Steve Lord was named the head coach of the LeTourneau women’s soccer program on June 20, 2022. Lord is the eighth head coach in the history of the program and completed his second season in 2023.

FAST FACTS

Years at LeTourneau: 2 (2022-present)

Overall record (at LeTourneau): 8-15-10 (.394)

Conference record (at LeTourneau): 0-11-6 (.167)

Overall coaching record (WSOC only): 19-51-11 (.302 in 6 seasons)

PROGRAM ACCOLADES UNDER LORD

1 ASC Goalkeeper of the Year (Kiersten Reeser, 2022)

6 All-ASC selections

3 ASC weekly award winners

8 CSC Academic All-District honorees

11 ASC Academic All-Conference selections (through 2022)

QUOTABLE

“We are pleased to add Steve to our strong coaching staff in Longview” LeTourneau Vice President for Athletics Dr. Tim Sceggel said. “I was impressed with his ability to integrate his faith in the interview process, and I’m confident that he will seek to pursue excellence in soccer.”

"I would like to thank Dr. Steven D. Mason, Dr. Tim Sceggel, Robin Harriss, the entire search committee, and the women's soccer team for allowing me and my family this amazing opportunity,” Lord said at the time of his hiring. “We are deeply grateful and honored to be a part of the LeTourneau community.”

“From the moment we arrived on campus, we were overwhelmed by the welcoming environment and kindness that we experienced,” Lord said. “The history, traditions, and culture of this university demonstrates the care and provision that everyone genuinely has for the students.”

“It is hard to put into words to describe how God has been guiding me and my family through this journey,” Lord said. “We have found strength and direction through His love. As part of the entire athletics program, our desire is to grow as a family, compete and represent the university well and most of all to continue building our relationship with God!”

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

The program continued to improve in Lord's second year at the helm in 2023. The YellowJackets finished 6-7-5 overall and produced the longest winning streak and consecutive shutout streak in program history (5). Freshman Chanel Kemball-Cook burst on to the scene and notched 11 goals and was one of three players to earn All-ASC honors (Drew Lessert, Heather Fellows). Five players were selected to the CSC Academic All-District team.

In Lord's first year in 2022, the YellowJackets produced five shutouts. Senior Kiersten Reeser set a pair of program records and was named the ASC Goalkeeper of the Year. She also earned the R.G. LeTourneau Legacy Award and set the program's career records for saves and shutouts. Three players earned All-ASC honors and three collected CSC Academic All-District awards. 

PRIOR TO LETOURNEAU

Lord brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Longview, touting a coaching career that spans 30 years.

Lord joins LeTourneau after serving after four years at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Illinois, where he led both the men’s and women’s soccer programs and the director for the Youth Indoor Soccer League hosted by LCU soccer. In addition, he was an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program from 2018-21 and coordinated recruiting duties for the entire athletic department.

Prior to his time with the Red Lions, Lord spent his summers coaching camps. He worked the Trinity International University soccer camp in Deerfield, Illinois, in 2016 and 2017, after spending 2008-13 as a coach at the University of Arizona women’s basketball camps.

He began his coaching career Santa Rita High School in Tucson, Arizona, where he served as the girls’ soccer coach from 1992-94. After four years as a physical therapy technician, Lord taught science and physical education at Grace Christian Middle School from 1997-99 before being named athletics director at Desert Christian Middle School in 2004.

His coaching career and administrative duties intermingled, holding several coaching positions at Desert Christian High School before moving to the high school full time in 2005. He coached basketball, soccer and track and field, while teaching physical education, algebra, geometry, weight training, and language lab during his tenure.

Lord graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in exercise and sport sciences in 1994 and obtained a teaching certification in higher education in 2001. He played soccer for two seasons at Pima College before transferring to Arizona, where he continued to play on the men’s club team.

YEAR-BY-YEAR

at LeTourneau (8-15-10)

2022: 2-8-5, 0-6-3 ASC

2023: 6-7-5, 0-5-3 ASC

at Lincoln Christian (WSOC, 11-36-1)

2021: 3-7-0

2020: 0-7-1

2019: 1-14-0

2018: 7-8-0

Overall (WSOC only): 19-51-11 in six seasons

at Lincoln Christian (MSOC, 10-33-1)

2020: 3-8-0

2019: 1-16-1

2018: 6-9-0

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT LORD

Steve does not lose sight of the bigger picture goals of life-on-life mentoring and discipleship, aiming to produce not only better soccer players, but great young women who will go on to be quality mothers, wives, employees, church members, etc. He is a voracious learner with an insatiable curiosity and desire to grow and learn.  I have watched him hungrily and passionately seek out learning opportunities and devour information and coaching/leadership wisdom that comes his way.  He is humble, never believing he is a finished product and would be the kind of coach who always seeks out mentors and fellow leaders who can sharpen and develop him. - Patrick Gilliam, Head Coach, Wheaton College

“I was thrilled when Steve came to Lincoln Christian because of his love of Christ and his love for soccer. I counted it a privilege to have had him on our campus and I know that he will do the same at LeTourneau. I appreciated his knowledge of soccer and his desire to see young athletes improve their skills and grow in their witness for Jesus.” - Lynn Laughlin VP, Alumni Services Emeritus, Lincoln Christian

“It was our privilege to have Steve Lord coach our son Josiah and daughter Mikayla at the collegiate level for the past three years. Coach Lord's passion for the game of soccer is only exceeded by the care he has for his athletes. The relationships that he builds with his players creates a positive family environment. Our student athletes learned from the first day until their last day with Coach Lord, because his knowledge of the game of soccer is exceptional. We were blessed to watch as he developed athletes into servant leaders for Christ.” - Craig J. Smith, Director, Northwoods School of Ministry