Bio

Anderson University named Steve Rock as the 14th head coach of the school’s football program on Dec. 7, 2017. Rock enters the fall of 2022-2023 in his fifth season as head coach.

During Rock’s time at Anderson, he has compiled the program’s best three-year winning percentage since 2009-11. In 2019, Anderson finished ranked sixth in the nation in passing offense and 19th in the nation in total offense. During the Spring of 2021, Anderson again produced a nationally-ranked offense, finishing fourth in passing offense, ninth in completion percentage, 11th in total offense and 17th in scoring offense.

Rock has mentored quarterback Tyson Harley, who was tabbed the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Freshman of the Year in 2019. As a freshman, Harley led the nation in completions per game and ranked third in passing yards per game. During his sophomore year, Harley led the nation in completions per game again. He also ranked second in passing yards per game, fourth in completion percentage, T-5 in passing touchdowns and eighth in points responsible for per game.

Rock has also coached Zac Tallent, James Tucker and Reggie Lipscomb who have each finished in the top 10 in the nation in key receiving statistical categories. While at Anderson, Rock has coached two HCAC Freshmen of the Year, four first-team all-HCAC selections, 34 all-HCAC selections, eight HCAC Players of the Week and five D3football.com Team-of-the-Week selections.

Rock came to Anderson after 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Franklin College.

Rock was Franklin’s assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. During his time at Franklin, the Grizzlies won 10 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships and went to the post season 10 of 11 campaigns.

He is a 1994 graduate of IUPUI and joined the Franklin staff in the spring of 2007. Prior to Franklin, Rock coached 18 years in the Indiana high school ranks, assisting at Center Grove, Bloomington South, Lawrence Central, Plainfield and Cascade.

During his first season at FC, Rock helped kicker Machy Magdalinos earn HCAC Special Team Player of the Year. He would also lead punter Michael Parks to third-team All-American honors following the 2012 campaign. In 2013, Mike Wood and Parks each received All-HCAC accolades. Parks received first-team Capital One Academic All-American honors as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America following the 2013 season.

On defense, linebacker Keaton Lyons was named the HCAC Freshman of the Year in 2012. A total of 20 linebackers have earned all-conference honors since 2007.