Steve Connor
Encyclopedia
Steve Connor is an author, speaker, leadership coach, and former NFL
football player. He is the founder of Sports Outreach International, and has worked with athletes and sports organizations on every continent except Antarctica. His books have been distributed worldwide.
, Scotland
, Wales
and Ireland
.
Connor has given lectures at many institutions, including Oxford University, Sandhurst Military Academy, Eton College
and Joe Gibbs Racing
.
Connor has published eight books, including A Sporting Guide to Eternity (2004), which reached Thomas Wesley best-seller status and was short-listed for “Harvest” Christian book of the year in 2004. Connor designed a copyright free Coaching Character Curriculum that has been adapted for use in Africa
, as well as by coaches, youth workers and organizations in Europe
, Asia
, Australia
, North America
, and South America
.
in northern Illinois
, where he was a prominent football player. He first attended Northern Illinois University
, as a Division 1 scholarship athlete in football. From there, he transferred to Azusa Pacific University
, where he was twice named an All American player (1982 and 1983) and was inducted into APU's Hall of Fame in 2008. After college, Steve was a free agent
for the 1984 Chicago Bears
, ending his season on the injured reserve list. In the 1985 season, he was picked up by the L.A. Rams as a free agent, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury.
and sports leadership. He first coached at Western Washington University
(1986). Later became the Southern Indiana Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
. He was Chaplain
of Indiana University
's varsity football team from 1987-1989 under Coach Bill Mallory
, whom Connor had first met when Mallory coached at Northern Illinois Univeristy. Connor then coached the Oxford Saints American Football Club
in England
from 1990-1995. He was also Assistant Head Coach for the United States Air Force
team at RAF Upper Heyford
. In 1992-93. He has had various roles in chaplaincy to players in the Scottish Premier League
and England's Premier League. He was Chaplain for the NFL Europe
Scottish Claymores
from 1999–2004. Recently, he returned as Chaplain for Indiana University's varsity football team under Coach Kevin Wilson
, and currently holds that position. He also facilitates the network of sports ministries in North America and teaches leadership.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player. He is the founder of Sports Outreach International, and has worked with athletes and sports organizations on every continent except Antarctica. His books have been distributed worldwide.
Sports Outreach International
Founded by Steve Connor in 1996, Sports Outreach International is devoted to developing leadership and fraternity through the avenues of sports and competition. They work with youth and sports organizations in countries across the globe. Sports Outreach International is associated with several different sports ministry organizations, including Intersports, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action and Christians in Sport. While living in England and Scotland (1990–2004) Connor helped pioneer youth sports ministries helping establish Christian sports camps (SportsPlus) in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Connor has given lectures at many institutions, including Oxford University, Sandhurst Military Academy, Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son...
.
Connor has published eight books, including A Sporting Guide to Eternity (2004), which reached Thomas Wesley best-seller status and was short-listed for “Harvest” Christian book of the year in 2004. Connor designed a copyright free Coaching Character Curriculum that has been adapted for use in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, as well as by coaches, youth workers and organizations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Career in American Football
Connor attended Wheaton North High SchoolWheaton North High School
Wheaton North High School, or WNHS, and locally referred to as "North," is a public four-year high school. It is located at the corner of Geneva Road and Gary Avenue in the northwest corner of Wheaton, Illinois, a middle-class western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
in northern Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, where he was a prominent football player. He first attended Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, as a Division 1 scholarship athlete in football. From there, he transferred to Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
, where he was twice named an All American player (1982 and 1983) and was inducted into APU's Hall of Fame in 2008. After college, Steve was a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
for the 1984 Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, ending his season on the injured reserve list. In the 1985 season, he was picked up by the L.A. Rams as a free agent, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury.
Coaching and Sports Leadership
After his time as a player, Connor moved on to coach football and work in sports ministrySports ministry
A Sports Ministry is any competitive or non-competitive "activity that takes place during leisure time with the stated purpose or intention of helping people become aware of their need for a relationship with God, his daily role in their lives and their place in his kingdom work." Sport is an...
and sports leadership. He first coached at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
(1986). Later became the Southern Indiana Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
. He was Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
's varsity football team from 1987-1989 under Coach Bill Mallory
Bill Mallory
William G. "Bill" Mallory is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , the University of Colorado at Boulder , Northern Illinois University , and Indiana University , compiling a career college football record of...
, whom Connor had first met when Mallory coached at Northern Illinois Univeristy. Connor then coached the Oxford Saints American Football Club
Oxford Saints American Football Club
The Oxford Saints American Football Club compete in the BAFACL in the UK. Currently the team compete at senior level in BAFL Division 1 South West Conference...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from 1990-1995. He was also Assistant Head Coach for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
team at RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training...
. In 1992-93. He has had various roles in chaplaincy to players in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and England's Premier League. He was Chaplain for the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
from 1999–2004. Recently, he returned as Chaplain for Indiana University's varsity football team under Coach Kevin Wilson
Kevin R. Wilson
Kevin R. Wilson is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.-Playing career:Wilson played offensive line and linebacker at Maiden High School...
, and currently holds that position. He also facilitates the network of sports ministries in North America and teaches leadership.
Personal life
Connor lives with his wife, Michelle, and their three children in Bloomington, Indiana.Awards and Honors
- Letter Winner (Football), Northern Illinois University, 1979–1980
- All-American (Football), Asuza Pacific University, 1982–83
- Hall of Fame, Asuza Pacific University, 2006
- Oxford Saints Hall of Fame, 2008
- L.H.D. Litterarum Humanarum Doctor; From Azusa Pacific University, 2009
Books
- Sports Plus, 1996
- Sports Outreach Scotland (Magazine), 1999–2004
- Sports Outreach, 2003
- TEAMS Study Series, 2003
- Leadership Teams
- Impact Teams
- Discovery Teams
- A Sporting Guide to Eternity, 2004
- NT: Sport (Europe), 2004
- NT: Sport (USA), 2004
- Power: NT (South Pacific), 2005