Hall of Fame Inductee · Football
Jim Steel
Year attended MC - 1986
- 2
- Seasons Starting
- 1986
- First-Team All-American
- 9–2
- Sophomore Team Record
Biography
Jim Steel was captain and defensive lineman of the year in 1985 for the College’s football team and a first team NJCAA All-American in 1986. He was also selected as first team for the All-Coastal Conference and the All- Region XX. He was a two-year starter at nose guard and a member of the “Gold Rush Defense.” As a sophomore lineman, he led the Knights to a 9-2 record and to the Mid- America Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A criminal justice and physical education major, Mr. Steel earned his B.S. in physical education on scholarship at what was then Gardner-Webb College, North Carolina. There, he served as team captain playing on the defensive line, won the “Most Dedicated” award, was unanimously selected to play the All-South Atlantic Conference, and earned Honorable Mention All-American. He continued his education at Salisbury University in Maryland earning his master’s degree in post-secondary education.
Mr. Steel has served as the defensive line and strength coach at Charleston Southern University (South Carolina) and Gardner-Webb University (North Carolina), and was the defensive coordinator and strength coach at Eau-Gallie High School (Florida). He returned to Montgomery College in 1993 to coach the Knights’ defensive line. Since 1999, he has served as the head strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. He helped to design and plan the University of Pennsylvania’s new 20,000-square-foot strength and conditioning facility, where he now supervises a staff of three full-time, one part-time, and two work-study employees.
Mr. Steel has also been a Muay Thai fighter and a powerlifting competitor. He is the American Powerlifting Association (APA) of New Jersey’s state record holder in the 275-pound class for the squat (820 lbs.), deadlift (740 lbs.), and total weight (2,065 lbs.). He also works with the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Team to help breast cancer survivors.