StC News

Lance Clelland named head varsity football coach

St. Christopher's School is proud to announce the hiring of Lance Clelland as head varsity football coach. He takes over for Michael Turner, who will become the head of St. Michael's School. Clelland will also join the school's admissions department as the Assistant Director of Admissions for the Middle and Upper Schools.

The 34-year-old spent the past three years as head coach/lead history teacher at South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland, posting a 19-13 record.

"I am both honored and humbled to become the next head football coach at St. Christopher's School," Clelland said. "St. Christopher's is a special community made up of exceptional people. It will be exciting to continue to build upon the excellent foundation that has been laid in the football program by Coach Turner and many others."

Clelland has a rich football background, starting at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, where he was a consensus high school All-American. A McDonogh Hall of Famer who earned 13 varsity letters, Clelland was a four-year starter on the offensive line for Northwestern University, helping the Wildcats to a Big Ten title in 2000. He had a brief stint in the NFL with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens in 2002, before wrapping up his playing career in the Arena Football League in 2005.

Clelland started his coaching career as an assistant at McDonogh, and took his talents to the college ranks coaching tight ends at Dartmouth College in 2007. He returned to high school in 2008 as a head coach, spending two years at Meade Senior High School in Maryland, and a year at the Vanguard School in Lake Wales, Florida, before taking the post at South River.

"Football is a vehicle for young men to learn how to properly react to the many emotions of life - from success to adversity," Clelland said. "The football program at St. Christopher's will be a mentally tough team of young men who truly care about one another.  
 
"The opportunity to bring my family to St. Christopher's - where the core beliefs of developing character and integrity are held in such high regard – is tremendous. My wife, Lauren, and my three children (Lorelei - 7, Lance – 5, and Lawson - 2) are counting the days until we arrive in Richmond!"
 
"We're excited about the impact that Lance Clelland can have on our community," said St. Christopher's Athletic Director John Gordon. "He is a very relationship-based guy who epitomizes the teacher-coach model. Through his opportunity to play and coach at some of the nation's finest schools, Lance has developed under the tutelage of extraordinary mentors. We are confident that he will be a powerful mentor for our guys and for the St. Christopher's football program moving forward."
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