The 2023 Sound Christian football season is nearly upon us and with all of that excitement right around the corner, we wanted to introduce our new staff.
Lance Powers is the new head coach, replacing Jonathan Randall who resigned because of a family emergency.
Powers has a long football career, playing in high school at Enumclaw and in college at Central Washington University. He was an assistant coach in Orting under Hall of Fame head coach Marty Parkhurst.
Powers is currently the lead pastor at Puget Sound Foursquare Church in Tacoma.
“My passion is to lead young men to grow in their walk with the Lord, become great husbands, fathers and light to the world they are part of,” Powers said. “We will develop a program here at SCA to grow football players, change the city and even impact the world with the Love of Christ. We will win football games, I can promise you that! Better than even that … We will help young boys become great young men!”
Parkhurst is coming out of retirement to be Powers’ right-hand man on the sidelines, while Tim Weaver, Brian Foster and Tom Siler will be assistants. Siler will also serve as the team’s trainer, while Jen Shutter will be the team’s sports administrator.
Tentative 2023 Schedule
- 9/2 – at Charles Wright Academy, 1 p.m.
- 9/8 – at Darrington, 6 p.m.
- 9/15 – vs. Naselle at Curtis HS, University Place, 7 p.m.
- 9/22 – at Mossyrock, 7 p.m.
- 9/29 – at Winlock, 6 p.m.
- 10/7 – vs. Tahloah at Clover Park, 6 p.m.
- 10/14 – vs. Oakville at Clover Park, 6 p.m. (Senior Night)
- 10/21 – vs. Chief Leschi at Curtis HS, University Place, 7 p.m. (Homecoming)
- 10/27 – at Muckleshoot Tribal, 6 p.m.
2023 SCA Football Staff
Head coach: Lance Powers
Lance and Pollie Powers are currently the Lead pastors of Puget Sound Foursquare Church here in Tacoma. They were married in 1989 and since have raised 3 children: Janssen, Mykaelynn and Baylie and now are grandparents to two sweet granddaughters Filson and Martha. Lance played football in Enumclaw and graduated in the class of 85. He then went on to play football at Central Washington University where he also studied Music. Lance then went on to Plant the Foursquare church in Orting Wa in 1999. While in Orting Lance joined the Football coaching staff of Orting High School and won many league titles and state appearances under the leadership of Head Coach Marty Parkhurst.
Assistant coach: Marty Parkhurst
Marty Parkhurst graduated from Rogers High School in Puyallup in 1978 and later attended PLU to earn his teaching degree. He was a bomber/backup on the 1980 PLU football team as PLU won the NAIA Football National Championship. After college Marty returned to coach at his Alma Mater for 10 years as an assistant coach. In 1993 Marty left Rogers to coach at Gig Harbor High School under head coach Steve Gervais. Gig Harbor placed 2nd in State that year. Parkhurst left Gig Harbor to become the head football coach at Orting High School in 1994. He led the Orting Cardinals to 12 state play-off appearances in 24 years ending his term with 159 total wins. Along the way Orting had a 33 game regular season win streak and multiple league titles. Coach Parkhurst won 6 league Coach of the Year awards as well as Seahawks Coach of the Week and 2 National Football Foundation Coach of the Year awards. Marty retired from coaching after the 2017 football season but remained the Athletic Director through 2021. He has 3 children: Jonathan, Krista, and Amy. He spends a lot of time with his 6 grandchildren in Tacoma and Peachtree City, Georgia. Marty is coming up on 39 years of marriage with his beautiful wife, Tina.
In March of 2023 Coach Parkhurst was inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches
Association Hall of Fame.
Assistant coach: Tim Weaver
Tim has been an assistant coach with the Lions since 2019. He is married to Johanna, a 1995 Tacoma Baptist graduate, and they have two children, Julianna (2020 TBS grad) and Noah (2023 SCA grad).
Assistant coach: Brian Foster
Brian Foster, an alumni of our school’s class of ’97, is currently in his fourth season as a football coach. Married to his high school sweetheart and a proud parent of two, Brian, along with his family, shares a special bond with our school as all four of them are graduates. His coaching style emphasizes teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, and his personal connection with the players has contributed to their growth and success on and off the field.
Assistant coach and Trainer: Tom Siler
Tom Siler was an internal medicine doctor for 35 years and is retired. All four of his children spent time at Tacoma Baptist in the 1990s.
Sports Administrator: Jen Shutter
Although Jen has never played football, she has played other sports and is able to appreciate how hard each athlete works to play football. Jen previously worked in ministry through Youth for Christ and Olive Crest organizations. Seeing youth reach their full potential through the work of Jesus Christ is such a blessing and reminder of God’s faithfulness and love. Go Lions!
