Behind the Bench Exclusive
By Chris Steckel

It was a beautiful, crisp Sunday afternoon in the nation’s capital in the fall of 1971. The Reflecting Pond on the National Mall mirrored the brilliant reds and golds of the turning trees that lined the playing fields of Potomac Park. The sky was blue and the sun was bright—it was a perfect day for football! As I huddled with my teammates on the co-ed flag football team that represented the California congressman I worked for on Capitol Hill, I looked into the eyes of the handsome, young quarterback who had recently joined our team.

He was a Marine, back from Vietnam and stationed at Quantico, just south of D.C. His intensity and desire to win brought something new to our team that had mostly concentrated on the social post-game opportunities. He had led us to some unexpected victories, and we now stood on the brink of the final play-off game that would power us into the “Super Bowl” against the Senate champs.

We were down to the final play; we needed a touchdown to win. At the snap of the ball, the defense rushed our quarterback, forcing him to scramble to make a play. Our two wide receivers were covered, and I found myself headed toward the corner of the end zone as he heaved the ball in my direction.

As the pigskin floated just above my head, I reached out with one hand and with my body outstretched, pulled it in and tumbled inside the boundary for six points and the victory. As the pile of bodies covered me in celebration, a strong arm reached down and lifted me to my feet. “Hey,” he said. “What was your name again? And would you like to go out with me?” It was the beginning of a life together…31 years of marriage and a lifetime of football.

My young Marine became a football coach, and I became a coach’s wife. In college, high school and the NFL, we walked through 11 states, 12 moves and 13 teams. Together we’ve known the thrill of Super Bowls and state championships, as well as the humiliation of firings and the heartbreaks of leaving old friends.
 
As a coach’s wife, I knew the long hours of the season that took him away, the packing of boxes I’d unpacked too recently, and the effort of trying to ignore the criticism of the Monday morning quarterbacks who were calling for his job and our livelihood. But I knew, too, why God had called him to coach and called me to be a coach’s wife. It was to influence young lives in a way unique to a coach and his family.

It was his desire that we would model Christian character, integrity and discipline, pointing to Christ as our Foundation. Our life as a coaching family was blessed by the hundreds of players, coaches and families who shared our lives. Today, God has called us to a new challenge as my husband, Les Steckel, is now the President/CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

Years ago, my predecessor, Barbara Shealy (wife of the former FCA President, Dal Shealy), saw the great need to encourage and lift up coaches’ wives and their families in their own calling to touch lives for the kingdom. It’s in that tradition that I am excited about launching the new “Behind the Bench” column in STV. It is our vision that with this page, the encouragers will be encouraged. Bringing features that will motivate you, resources that will equip you, and devotions that will inspire you to take on the challenges of the coaching life, “Behind the Bench” is for you, the coach’s spouse…

Walking with Him,
Chris Steckel