The Sterling College Athletic Department announced the resignation of Head Football Coach Andy Lambert on Tuesday. Lambert moves on to become the head football coach at NCAA Division II Southern Nazarene University.
“Our 12 years at Sterling College and in the community have been fantastic. The support and kindness has been overwhelming,” said Lambert, “We are sad to leave and also excited to move on to this new challenge.”
In his 12 seasons at Sterling, Lambert’s teams went 72-52, leading the Warriors to top-three finishes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) during eight of those seasons. Lambert was awarded the KCAC Coach of the Year honor in 2004, 2007 and 2013. Lambert sits with a career record of 102-95.
The past three years have been milestone seasons for the Sterling football program, starting in 2013 when the Warriors won their first KCAC championship in school history. In 2014, Lambert passed former Sterling coach Curt Bennett to become the winningest head coach in Sterling College Football history, and in the past season, Lambert collected the 100th win of his career with a victory over the University of Saint Mary.
Prior to coming to Sterling, Lambert served as head football coach at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. Lambert was the head coach at Trinity for seven years, but he was associated with TIU football as both a player and coach for fifteen years. During his last three seasons at Trinity, Lambert led the Trojans to an overall record of 22-11. During his final year at Trinity, Lambert’s squad finished with an overall record of 8-3 and was ranked 19th nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Trojans were also Mid-States West co-conference champions in 2003. Lambert was named Mid-States West Coach of the Year in both 2003 and also in 2001.
“We are excited for Andy and the Lambert family on their new adventure at Southern Nazarene University,” said Athletic Director Gary Kempf. “I greatly appreciate and admire his commitment to the Sterling football program, building a quality program that was based off a solid foundation of values and integrity over his tenure here at SC. He is a consummate Christian college football coach and we are truly thankful for all he has done with our student-athletes at Sterling.”
Chuck Lambert has been named the interim head coach. Chuck has served on Sterling’s coaching staff for the past 12 seasons, most recently as associate head coach. Prior to coming to Sterling, Lambert served as head football coach for five years at Lockwood High School in Lockwood, Missouri. During that time, Lambert posted an overall record of 43-14 and was state runner-up in Missouri Class 1A in 2001.
“We have a great opportunity going forward with Chuck Lambert named as interim head coach. With Chuck’s knowledge and commitment to the game we anticipate a smooth transition going forward with Chuck as the top candidate for the head coaching vacancy,” said Kempf.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #swordsup. Watch all of the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
