Brian Lane couldn’t have imagined God's plans for him when he joined an FCA Lacrosse team as an eighth grader in Rochester, New York. He knew little about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes other than it had an outstanding club team that made deep tournament runs. But he got a lot more than he bargained for when he put on the team’s jersey.
“I went from thinking the FCA team in my area was just a really strong tournament team to building relationships with teammates and coaches on that team that became transformational,” Lane said. “I saw this culture of coaches who had a next-level of care. And there would be these moments of Bible study in our FCA Huddle where I’d get this feeling of, ‘There’s a lot more here than sports.’”
When it was time to decide where to continue his education in 2011, Lane chose Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., about 30 miles northeast of Boston.
The goalkeeper continued his association with FCA, serving as an FCA Lacrosse intern and coaching at camps.
“I honestly think if it wasn’t for the summer I spent as an intern, I don’t think I’d be coaching,” Lane said. “It was an amazing experience, being around a lot of godly men.”
FOUR PILLARS AND FURTHERING THE VISION
Lane went into social work after earning a Bachelor’s degree in 2015, but continued to stay involved in the sport, coaching youth and high school teams and serving as a volunteer goalkeeper coach at Gordon. When his alma mater was searching for an interim head coach in 2018, it didn’t have to look far, tabbing Lane to lead the program he once suited up for. The school removed the interim tag in 2019, Lane excited to continue a tradition of building relationships and influencing the trajectory of student-athletes’ lives.
“I find a lot of pride in the guys who were like me when I got here as a student, guys who have just started exploring their faith,” he said. “They get here, and their world gets turned around in the best way possible. They build relationships and go into serving the Lord faithfully and understanding how to glorify Christ.”
BUILDING FAITH AND SHARING LOVE
Lane’s faith continues to grow as he serves the Lord. He is involved in an excellent church community and has been a part of a Bible study with other coaches from Gordon and neighboring Endicott College.
“As a coach, you're doing a lot,” Lane Said. “It's important to take a moment to be fed so you can then go out there and mentor and support these guys.
“You have to take ownership of your faith journey to make sure that you're doing the things that you need to do so that you can be that beacon of light.”
That light of faith, hope and love shines through Lane, who said college students face many social and emotional challenges — with student-athletes facing added pressure.
“We push and challenge them,” he said. “And then I talk about it with them. When I tell one of my players after I get to know them, ‘I love you and I'm there for you,’ he looks at me differently. He feels cared for. And when you build trust from a place of love, it becomes stronger.”
Lane’s approach is noticed — and admired — on and around the Gordon campus.
“Brian is the kind of coach you want your child playing for,” said Bill Melvin, an FCA Ambassador in Essex County. “He keeps the sport in perspective and has a maturity in his faith.”
THANKFUL TO PLAY A SMALL PART
Lane, who served as Gordon’s interim director of athletics in addition to his coaching responsibilities during the 2023-24 academic year, says he wants Gordon to be a place where student-athletes can be built up and grow, where the program’s four pillars — brotherhood, integrity, faith and excellence — and culture impact their lives and the lives of others far beyond their college years. He’s thrilled that God uses him to play a small part.
“It’s an unbelievable experience,” he said, “to recruit players, welcome them to this community, have them experience this place for four years and then see them go out into the world to serve Christ and be a beacon of light in their communities.”
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Photos courtesy of Gordon College Athletics