From the Pits to the Palace
Les Steckel
At the end of every podcast, we like to ask our guests to share what God has been teaching them in this season of life. Les Steckel, Vietnam War Veteran, Super Bowl Coach, and former President of FCA, shared how God has been with him every step of his unpredictable journey.
The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. - Genesis 39:2
You know, just recently I've been listening to a series about Joseph. I've done it before in my life. And I have enjoyed going through this and smiling and saying, look at all the setbacks.
Look at the time when they called you in and your first two tight ends were first team, all Americans. And look at the number of players you coached at Colorado. They were all first and second-round draft choices. And what? We're all getting fired. What?
Or we set seven franchise records at Tampa with Tony Dungy and we went to the playoffs. And I'm getting singled out and fired. What?
Now, we laugh about that because I've always wondered, you know, how does this happen to a young man who was a walk on at Kansas University. I only played one year of high school football because my dad wouldn't sign for me. He only let me play baseball and basketball. And that's what I got recruited by Naval Academy for.
But I flunked the physical to go to KU. I never suited up for a game, never stepped on the field, came home from Vietnam, played running back for whoever heard of the Quantico Marine football team, never heard of it. And then I called plays in two Super Bowls. And to be a head coach. But better yet, coach my son's high school team in 2002 here in Tennessee. And win the five A state title.
Who wrote that script?
But as Chris and I look at the setbacks and like Raymond Berry said to me Les, I can't believe you're getting fired. Well, next thing you know, we move to Nashville and I coach my son's high school team to the state title. I mean, what kind of incredible script and story is that?
So when I share my faith, the people, they go, “Really all that happened?” So what we're studying now is about going from the pits to the palace, if you will, in Joseph.
But also, I've been reading Mark and you know, you read the gospels, the four gospels looking for the difference. There's not a lot of difference. It's fascinating how these four writers have the same information. And do you hear about how Jesus made all these moves, these miracles, how he saved people, and just how calm he was?
I always tell people he would have been a tough linebacker. I think he would have called the signal in the huddle and everybody would listen and done so. And I just I am so blessed to know him personally.
And for those that are reading. If you're a coach, please know that your role, your platform to me and to Billy Graham is the most powerful platform anyone can have, because there's a quote now in the new president's office that I used to use all the time, and that is that a coach can influence more people in one year than most can in a lifetime.
I didn't say it. Coach Tom Landry didn't say it. The great basketball coach John Wooden, who was involved in FCA and a great Christian man who lived to be 99 didn't say it. Billy Graham said it. The life of the coach has such an impact on so many. And those coaches that are reading, I hope you realize the platform God's giving you.