Fellowship of Christian Athletes is announcing an exciting leadership transition in its 60-plus-year history, with the appointment of Shane Williamson as the eighth president and CEO of FCA. At year-end, veteran NFL coach and FCA president and CEO Les Steckel will retire after 12 years of outstanding service and whole-hearted dedication to the ministry. Williamson will begin his new post on January 1, 2017.
The national search for the new FCA president was prayerful, far-reaching and comprehensive. An executive search firm, search committee and FCA’s National Board of Trustees were proud to recommend Williamson from inside the FCA family. With 24 years of FCA involvement, FCA leadership is confident Shane will carry out FCA’s strong vision to impact coaches and athletes for Christ and continue to take the ministry to new heights.
Shane Williamson currently serves as FCA’s Executive Director of Field Ministry, a post he’s held since September 2014. He was also the Vice President of Field Ministry for the Carolinas from 2011-2014, Multi-Area Director for Metro Atlanta from 2005-2011 and the Area Director for Upstate South Carolina from 2002-2005. Before his employment with FCA, Williamson was involved as an FCA sponsor while working as a teacher and coach from 1992-2002 in four South Carolina high schools. That decade of hands-on experience allows him to personally understand and relate to coaches and athletes on a unique level.
Les Steckel became the seventh president and CEO of FCA in March 2005, and under his excellent leadership, FCA staff nearly doubled from 727 to 1,432, while FCA Huddles—small groups of coaches and athletes who come together to pray and study God’s Word—more than tripled, from 5,500 to 17,376. FCA’s extremely popular and life-changing Camps ministry experienced a five-fold increase, from 139 Camps to 740 Camps around the world in 2016. And Camp attendance quadrupled, from 27,954 to 106,268 this past summer. Internationally, FCA flourished over Steckel’s tenure, with the ministry now serving in 60 countries with 133 leaders.
Newly appointed FCA president Shane Williamson (left) and Les Steckel.
As Les Steckel passes the baton to Shane Williamson, there is a sentimental atmosphere around the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, mixed with an air of excitement, as these two men have devoted themselves to sports and the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe.