Steve Koudelka has established the Lynchburg College men's lacrosse program as a national powerhouse in his 16 seasons on the sidelines after coming to Lynchburg for the 1997 season. During his tenure, Koudelka has recorded an overall record of 182-81, including 14-straight winning seasons. Lynchburg has advanced into the NCAA Tournament five times in the last eight years.
2012 was a banner year for Koudelka. The program set the record for most wins in a season with 17, which included a 16-game winning streak, the longest in LC history. For these efforts, he was named ODAC Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year. The Hornets place 11 members on the All-ODAC team, including player of the year, Joe Lisicky. LC won the program's fourth conference title and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
In 2011, Koudelka was voted on by his peers as the ODAC Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year following the squad's second-straight 13-win season and trip to the conference title game. The 2008 squad boasted a program record 16 wins and also established a school record by winning 14 straight games en route to the ODAC Championship. The 2007 season saw the Hornets win 13 games for the third-straight season. In 2006, the Hornets finished 13-4 overall and were ranked #2 in the nation at midseason, the highest ranking in program history. LC won its second ODAC title in 2005 with an 11-10 win over Roanoke. Lynchburg defeated Denison College in the second-round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the team's first victory in NCAA Tournament in history, and was a goal away from reaching the Final Four.
The 2004 team finished 9-5 overall and in 2003, the Hornets won their first ODAC title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in program history. The 2003 team also finished with a 12-5 record and ended the campaign with a #6 national ranking. His 2002 team set a new school record with a seven-game winning streak and reached #13 in the NCAA Division III poll. LC finished 11-4 overall. Koudelka's 1999 squad posted an 11-5 mark en route to the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The 2000 campaign saw the LC men earn a share for second place in the ODAC, their best ODAC finish since 1984.
Koudelka was selected to coach at the 2000 North-South All-Star game and was the past-president of the US Lacrosse Men's Division Coaches' Council Executive Committee. He is currently the chairperson of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championships Committee.
Prior to assuming the head post at Lynchburg, Koudelka spent three years as graduate assistant coach at Gettysburg (PA) College, where he was a two-time all-America goalkeeper. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in the fall of 2006.
The Long Valley, NJ native earned his bachelor's degree from Gettysburg in 1993 and his master's degree from Western Maryland College in 1996. He was one of just 12 goalkeepers invited to try out for the 1998 U.S. World Team. Koudelka played professionally for two seasons with the New Jersey Pride for Major League Lacrosse. Koudelka and his wife, Amy, have three children, Holly, Billy and Mary.
