Randy Strawser shared his thoughts of reflection after his 100^th win as a soccer coach.

“I love the game of soccer,” Strawser said. After coming here he says his perspective on soccer has changed and evolved by the ministry aspect of the team. He believes a coach’s true role is to build a program that represents Christ on and off the field.

In light of his recent 100^th win as a soccer coach, Strawser had a humble attitude.

“I don’t know that it means all that much except that I’ve been doing it a long time.”

He added there are many athletes who go through the soccer program and in all his years of coaching, he’s never scored a goal once.

“It’s more the students on the team,” Strawser said. “Every one of them is a piece of that.”

He, like many other coaches, had his share of struggles and discouragement. Strawser said his third year at Cornerstone was tough because recruiting did not go well that year and the season ended with the team having a 5-11-2 overall record, with three of their wins in their last four games. Then again his next season held a record of 13-6-1.

Strawser who grew up in North Carolina studied kinesiology at Coker College in South Carolina from 1980 to 1984. While at Coker he played soccer as an athlete who one day would be known as coach.

When the time for graduate school rolled around, Strawser studied for his master’s degree in health and physical education from 1984 to 1986. Studying at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, he also was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team through the graduate program.

Upon completing his master’s degree in 1986, Strawser began teaching physical education at Mount Olive College in North Carolina. He also worked as head coach of the men’s soccer team there until 1992.

In 1992, Strawser began his job as at Westmont College in California. He taught kinesiology there until 1999, when he landed at Cornerstone University.

“I really felt like God opened up the door to come here,” Strawser said, in reference to Cornerstone.

Strawser said he knew a guy in California by the name of Bob Fortosis. Fortosis ended up coming to Cornerstone in 1995 to take the position of Athletic Director. When he heard that Cornerstone had an opening he called Strawser up and told him about it. The next thing they knew, they were both working in the Cornerstone University athletic department.

For the first time in his life, Strawser was now coaching as head coach women’s soccer rather than men’s.

Lucky for him, he had help. He said that his wife Dianne worked with him and the team. She helped out with training and practices until 2006, when she had to focus more on the family and raising their four kids. In addition to his coaching job, Strawser has worked in sports information at CU.

Strawser has enjoyed his work here at CU and is not envisioning a move or looking at his time here as a stepping stone.

“If I feel like God is calling me somewhere else, I certainly have to obey,” Strawser said, “But I’m certainly not looking for a place where… the grass is greener.”