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Steve Connor
Steve Connor (born October 5, 1961) leadership coach, speaker, author, and former NFL player. He founded and runs Sports Outreach International.
Biography
Steve Connor graduated from Wheaton North High School in Illinois. He was a prominent player on his high school team, and attended Northern Illinois University on Division 1 football scholarship. After NIU, Connor transferred to Azusa Pacific University, where he twice earned All American status as a Defensive Tackle (1982 and 1983).
After finishing college, Steve played for the 1984 Chicago Bears as a free agent, but his season ended on the injured reserve list after a knee injury. In 1985, he played for the L.A. Rams as a free agent until he suffered a knee injury that ended his football career.
After his professional playing days, Connor began working in coaching, sports ministry, and sports leadership. Western Washington University was his first coaching position in 1986. Soon after, he took the position of Southern Indiana Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Connor later coached in England with the Oxford Saints American Football Club from 1990-1995. While in the United Kingdom, Connor also served as Assistant Head Coach for the US Air Force team at RAF Upper Heyford.
From 1987-1989 he was the Chaplain for Indiana University's football team under Coach Bill Mallory. While in the UK, Connor held various roles as Chaplain for teams in the Scottish Premier League and the English Premier League. Since returning to Bloomington, Connor serves as Chaplain for Indiana University's football team for Coach Kevin Wilson.
Currently, Steve Connor runs Sports Outreach International, an organization devoted to developing leadership and fraternity through the avenues of sports and competition. In his work with youth and sports organizations, Connor has taught and spoken on every continent except Antarctica. Sports Outreach International is associated with several different sports ministry organizations, including Intersports, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action and Christians in Sport.
Connor lives with his wife and three children in Bloomington.
Awards and Honors
- Letter Winner (Football), Northern Illinois University, 1979–1980
- All-American (Football), Asuza Pacific University, 1982–83
- Hall of Fame, Asuza Pacific University, 2006
- Oxford Saints Hall of Fame, 2008
- L.H.D. Litterarum Humanarum Doctorate from Azusa Pacific University, 2009
Books
- Sports Plus, 1996
- Sports Outreach Scotland (Magazine), 1999–2004
- Sports Outreach, 2003
- TEAMS Study Series, 2003
- Leadership Teams
- Impact Teams
- Discovery Teams
- A Sporting Guide to Eternity, 2004
- NT: Sport (Europe), 2004
- NT: Sport (USA), 2004
- Power: NT (South Pacific), 2005
