Hall of Fame
Chris Lahm has led the athletic department at Ozark Christian College with excellence, prioritizing student-athletes’ spiritual growth alongside education and athletic competition. He has served at Ozark since 2005, yet his influence goes beyond the campus of Ozark. A mentor to many, Chris has been an active leader in the NCCAA and is an exemplary ambassador for the cause of Christian college athletics.
With over 35 years of service in higher education and athletics, Chris has served as athletic director, basketball coach, dean of enrollment, dean of students, campus minister, and educator at various colleges across the Midwest, including Nebraska Christian College and Ozark Christian College. Dedicating over 19 years of that time to Ozark, he currently serves as athletic director and head men’s basketball coach for the Ambassadors. Having just under 650 games in his coaching career, Chris has been honored as NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year three times and NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 1998. His teams have appeared in seven NCCAA National Championships.
Chris challenges his athletes to be excellent as a way of bringing glory to God. That excellence has been apparent in the numerous NCCAA Scholar-Athletes and All-Americans he has coached. Chris believes sports are a platform for sharing Christian testimony, a classroom for teaching Christian values, and a sanctuary for worshiping Christ. As he shepherds his student-athletes, his goal is to present everyone mature in Christ as written in Colossians 1:28.
As a servant leader, Chris cultivates his student-athletes’ faith development, educational studies, and athletic goals. He holds team devotions, has led his teams on mission trips, and has encouraged many of his student-athletes into ministry work. Chris has served the NCCAA for many years and in various ways, including hosting championships, leading regions, raising money, and serving on the Board of Directors. Throughout his career, Chris has remained Christ-like, supportive, and available, and that consistency is what has made him such an important figure in so many people’s lives.
Mid-America Christian University Athletic Director Marcus Moeller said, “I am beyond grateful for the time I spent playing for Coach Lahm. We won some games, lost some games, learned a lot, and made so many memories. Since landing a job in college athletics, I have leaned on him. He has been a listening ear when life is hard, he’s stretched me to think differently than others working in college athletics, and he’s been a faithful friend.”
“Chris Lahm has provided outstanding leadership for our athletic program,” stated Ozark Christian College President Matt Proctor. “About 10% of our student body are Christian student-athletes, and when I consider that three-word description - Christian student-athlete - I see that Chris has taken each word seriously.”
Former men’s basketball player Aaron Bly said, “Coach Lahm is not only an incredible coach, but also a great Christian father figure to so many individuals over the years. He has made a huge impact on his players by teaching us that there is more to life than just winning games. Coach Lahm provides an atmosphere that helps his players learn about life, grow in their faith, and build bonds that last to this day.”
The NCCAA is honored to induct Chris Lahm into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022.