Cal Lutheran football coach stepping down

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — April 21, 2021) After 14 years at the helm of Kingsmen football, California Lutheran University alumnus Ben McEnroe is stepping down on May 15 to return to coaching younger student-athletes.

“It has been a tremendous honor to lead Kingsmen football at my alma mater. Our family has been blessed by our time at Cal Lutheran, and we look forward to staying connected with the program, our friends, and the university,” said the father of three. “But my wife, Kami, and I have been feeling a calling to work with high-school- and middle-school-aged student-athletes and their families again, and God has given us that opportunity at Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas.”

McEnroe led the Kingsmen to great success at the NCAA Division III level. After winning the SCIAC championship in 2007, McEnroe’s squads won four more SCIAC championships from 2009 to 2012, with an unprecedented record of 35-2 in SCIAC regular season games, and won 27 conference games in a row. Those teams made four NCAA Division III playoff appearances. 

Since 2007, numerous Cal Lutheran student-athletes have been All-Americans and All-SCIAC selections. Current Toronto Argonauts wide receiver and Cal Lutheran Alumni Athletic Hall of Famer Eric Rogers is one of seven McEnroe-coached Kingsmen to appear in NFL training camps or regional workouts.

“Ben represents the epitome of what it means to be a coach,” said Cal Lutheran Athletic Director Dan Kuntz. “He will be deeply missed because he is a transformative leader and an even better person. He has a deep care for Cal Lutheran and the athletes who have been in his charge. Ben will always be a member of our Cal Lutheran athletics family.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Lutheran in 1993, McEnroe became the assistant offensive line coach at his alma mater. He was an assistant coach for the 1997 championship team, recruiting and coaching an offensive line that featured three All-SCIAC selections. McEnroe has been a part of the coaching staff for every SCIAC championship in program history. 

After serving as an assistant coach at Cal Lutheran, McEnroe went on to a successful stint as a high school head coach and then returned as head coach in 2007.

While playing for the Kingsmen during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, McEnroe received First Team All-SCIAC honors at center and Most Inspirational Player honors as team captain. He earned a master’s degree in education from Cal Lutheran in 1999.

After 13 years as an assistant at Cal Lutheran, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Anthony Lugo will serve as interim head coach during the national search for a permanent replacement, which will start in fall. Cal Lutheran plans to name the new head coach in early March.

“I can’t imagine anyone being better prepared to lead Cal Lutheran football in 2021,” McEnroe said. “This is an exciting team full of outstanding young men, and under Coach Lugo’s leadership the sky’s the limit.”