FCA Senior Leadership
Les Steckel
President/CEO
Veteran NFL coach Les Steckel became the seventh President and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on March 1, 2005. Steckel’s extensive involvement with FCA dates back to 1972 when, as a college football coach, he attended his first FCA conference. In the more than 30 years since then, Steckel has served as a Huddle Leader, platform speaker, camp dean, football clinician at various FCA Camps across the nation and served regularly as a guest speaker for FCA events. Steckel and his wife, Chris, also speak at FCA marriage enrichment weekends, and prior to his selection as FCA President and CEO, both he and Chris served on the FCA National Board of Trustees.
Steckel’s football coaching career spans over 32 years. After spending five years as a college coach at the University of Colorado and the U.S. Naval Academy, Steckel began his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1978. His 23 years coaching experience in the NFL includes serving as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans whom he helped guide to the 2000 Super Bowl, and offensive coach for the New England Patriots during their 1985 Super Bowl season.
Additionally, he held the position of offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been a position coach with the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, and Buffalo Bills.
A Golden Gloves boxing champion at the University of Kansas, Steckel graduated from Kansas in 1968 with a triple-major bachelor’s degree in political science, social work and human relations. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and, after completing Officer Candidate School in early 1969, served in Vietnam as an infantry officer. In 1972, Steckel joined the Marine Corps Reserves and served in various staff positions throughout the United States while he coached football for college and NFL teams until retiring in 1999 as a Colonel. Among his numerous military awards, Steckel received the Navy Commendation Medal.
In August 2006, Steckel’s autobiography, One Yard Short: Turning Your Defeats Into Victories, was published. The title is derived from the final play of the 2000 Super Bowl between the St. Louis Rams and Steckel’s Titans, a play that has been called the most exciting play in the history of the Super Bowl. Steckel’s book chronicles his life journey which ultimately led him to Kansas City to head the largest sports ministry in the world.
Les and Chris Steckel, who reside in suburban Kansas City, are the parents of three adult children, Christian, Lesley and Luke.
Ken Williams
Executive Vice President/COO
Ken Williams serves as the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the World Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa., Williams attended South Hill Catholic High School where he participated in cross country and track and held the school’s record for the mile and two mile.
Graduating from California State College (Pa.) with a BA in Recreation and Park Administration, Williams began working as a restaurant manager and, from there, moved up the corporate ladder, spending more than 20 years in human resources.
He has held the position of Director of Training and Sr. Vice President of Human Resources for Metromedia Steakhouses (Dayton, Ohio), Vice President of Human Resources and Operations for Monetery Pasta Company (Danville, Ca.) and Executive Director of Human Resources for Donatos Pizza (Columbus, Ohio). He also obtained a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Society for Human Resource Manager.
Williams came on board with FCA in 1999 as Vice President of Human Resources and later served as Senior VP of Human and Program Development until his promotion to Chief Operating Officer in 2004. As FCA’s Executive VP/COO, Williams is responsible for providing leadership within human resources, ministry finances, strategic planning and in support of the President. He works passionately to serve FCA staff, coaches, athletes and volunteers and strives to unite all involved with FCA under the banner of the ministry’s mission—to impact the world for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches.
Williams and his wife, Judy, reside in Olathe, Kan., with their daughter, Heather
Dan Britton
Senior Vice President of Ministry Programs
As a native of Virginia, Britton attended St. Stephens High School where he captained the football and lacrosse teams, receiving all-conference and all-state honors in both sports. From there, Britton went to the University of Delaware to captain the Division I lacrosse team, where he was one of the team’s leading scorers. He graduated with a degree in finance.
After being a first-round draft selection of the Professional Indoor Lacrosse League, Britton spent four years as a starter for the Baltimore Thunder. During his career, he earned a spot on the All-Star team and was nominated by his teammates for both the Service and Unsung Hero awards.
Britton has served on FCA staff in various roles since 1991. Now as the Senior Vice President of Ministries, he oversees FCA Camps, Coaches Ministry, Campus Ministry, Huddles, Adult Ministry, Urban Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Sport-Specific Ministries and Resource Development.
As a communicator, Britton is a frequent speaker at schools, churches, conventions and retreats. He and his wife, Dawn, live in Overland Park, Kan., with their three children Kallie, Abby and Elijah.
William Mark Gassman
Senior Vice President of Field Ministry
Mark Gassman has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1984, serving in his current role at the World Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., for the last five years. His love for FCA stems back his first FCA experience when, as a 15-year-old, he attended an FCA Camp at William Jewell College. And after becoming a Christian in 1979, his heart has beat even stronger for the ministry.
Raised in Lathrop, Mo., Gassman attended Lathrop High School where he achieved three varsity letters in football, basketball and track. From there, Gassman attended Central Methodist College (now Central Methodist University) where he played baseball for one year and basketball for two years.
After graduating, Gassman took a coaching position with Lillis High School in Kansas City where he coached football, basketball and track. He has also coached at both of his alma maters, heading up football, basketball and track at Lathrop H.S. and football at Central Methodist. Before joining the FCA team, he worked for five years at New York Life as an agent and sales manager.
Gassman and his wife, Vickie, met in their high school’s parking lot after a basketball game and have enjoyed 34 years of marriage. The couple has five children and six grandchildren, and they currently reside in Harrisonville, Mo.
In his current position, Gassman oversees the more than 800 FCA field staff in approximately 350 offices around the country.
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Tom Rogeberg
Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Tom Rogeberg serves as the Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the World Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. He oversees FCA’s external and internal communications, including Sharing the Victory magazine and radio, FCA online ministry, public relations and marketing.
Rogeberg came to know the Lord when he was 25 years old. After he and his wife, Karen, were married in 1969, they received a copy of The Amplified New Testament and a Women’s Bible Study Fellowship outline that described how to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Together, on their knees the newlyweds, gave their lives to Christ.
Before joining FCA in January 2006, Rogeberg served as the Executive Vice President of Coral Ridge Ministries Media, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the broadcast and print ministry of the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. Altogether, Rogeberg has spent 42 years in public and Christian broadcasting. Prior to joining Coral Ridge Ministries in 2000, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries in Atlanta from 1990-2000. There, he also held the roles of President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of In Touch Ministries of Canada and Vice President of the In Touch Foundation.
Before his tenure at In Touch, Rogeberg was the president of Thorson & Company, a cable television consulting firm he established in Virginia Beach, Va. From 1978-88, he also held various executive positions with The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. in Virginia Beach, culminating with the responsibilities of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the CBN Network.
Rogeberg holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in Speech from the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance Defense Fund as well as the National Religious Broadcasters, and has served on the Executive Committee of the NRB Board for five years, including as stint as First Vice Chairman from 1997-2000.
Tom and Karen reside in Kansas City, Mo. They have adult sons: Tim in California, and John and his wife, Karen, and their two daughters in Georgia.
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