Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team will have a new face in charge of the Cru offense with the announcement of the hire of Stephen Lee as UMHB's new offensive coordinator. Lee will replace Cody Fredenburg in that position after Fredenburg resigned in December to pursue career opportunities outside of coaching. Lee becomes just the sixth offensive coordinator in the program's history.
Lee comes to UMHB after spending the past five years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II West Texas A&M. Lee spent four years as the Buffs offensive coordinator after serving as the school's quarterbacks coach in 2011. Lee guided a West Texas A&M offense that set an NCAA Division II record for passing yardage in 2013 and led the nation in passing yardage and passing touchdowns. The Buffs won a Lone Star Conference Championship and earned a pair of NCAA postseason berths during his tenure on the coaching staff. Lee is also familiar with the American Southwest Conference thanks to his five-year stint as an assistant coach at Howard Payne University. Lee coached with the Yellow Jackets from 2000-2005, serving as the program's recruiting coordinator and splitting his time between defensive ends/defensive tackles and tight ends and running backs. Lee's first collegiate coaching stop came as offensive line coach at Western New Mexico University from 1999-2000. He has made high school coaching stops at Brenham High School (2005-2011) and Irion County High School (1996-99). Lee was the Co-Offensive Coordinator at Brenham and helped lead the Cubs to five district championships and a 66-13 record during his tenure.
"He is an incredible football coach and once we started talking nuts and bolts it became clear that his knowledge is a good mix with our current offensive scheme," Cru Head Coach Pete Fredenburg said. "I think he will be a good fit with our coaching staff and we are very excited to have him come on board and join our football family."
Lee is a 1993 graduate of Angelo State University and played four years as a quarterback and fullback for the Rams. He earned a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Western New Mexico University. Lee and his wife, Molly, have four children, Jarrett, Jordan, Jacy and Katie. Jarrett was a standout football player at LSU and later signed with the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.
"When I was at Howard Payne, I knew that Coach Fredenburg was building something special at Mary Hardin-Baylor and I have had a chance to watch that develop into what I consider one of the elite football programs in the country," Lee said. "I have been fortunate to be around some great men during my coaching career and have drawn from that throughout my experience. There are good men, good players and a good program in place at UMHB and I hope to come in and just add to that success."
Lee will take over a UMHB offense that expects to return eight starters next season. The Cru went 11-2 overall and won a share of the program's 13th ASC title with a 4-1 league mark this past season. UMHB advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III National Championships and were ranked 6th nationally in the final American Football Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll of the 2015 season.