The Official Site of the Houghton University Highlanders

Record: 402-122-39
28 Season  s

The Highlanders have experienced a rich tradition of success under Coach David Lewis, whose teams have earned 12 trips to the NAIA Nationals, including a string of nine years in a row from 2003-2011, and reached the Elite Eight in 2005 and 2006 as well as the Sweet 16 in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2011. 

The team advanced to the NCCAA Division I National Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida, five-straight years, winning their region in 2012, 2013 and 2015 and receiving at-large bids in 2014 and 2016.

In 2015 the women won their first NCCAA National Championship. It was the first national title for a women's team sport in Houghton College history. Following the season, Lewis was recognized as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year.

After inheriting a team that had gone 2-14-1 in 1990 and which had only one winning season in 10 years of competition, Lewis has guided the Highlanders to become one of the top small college teams in the nation.

Lewis held the national record for career coaching wins in NAIA women’s soccer history (326) from 2005-2014 and is among the Top 10 women’s soccer coaches in career winning percentage (.777). While Houghton transitioned to NCAA Division III in 2012, during the soccer team’s run in the NAIA, Lewis was recognized six times as the NSCAA NAIA Northeast Coach of the Year, and nine times as the conference/divisional coach of the year.

During Lewis’ tenure, he has coached 13 conference players of the year and 12 region players of the year. His players have earned 84 first-team all-conference awards and collected 75 All-American honors, (eight first-team, 14 second-team, nine third-team and 44 honorable mention). Strong academics have also been a hallmark of the women’s soccer program; numerous individual players have won academic honors and the team has won 18 NSCAA Team Academic Awards (1997-2016). A highlight of Lewis’ career came at the 2005 National Tournament Banquet when his Highlanders were recognized as the first-ever recipients of the Buffalo Fund Five Star Team of Character Award.

In 2013, he was inducted into Houghton's Athletics Hall of Honor.

During the 2018 season, Lewis collected his 400th collegiate win, joining a select group of 25 women's college coaches across all divisions of NAIA and NCAA to reach the 400-win plateau. 

Lewis believes that quality soccer can be combined with a passionate Christian faith. “Some programs emphasize quality soccer, but at the expense of their Christian faith. Others demonstrate a passionate faith, but they don’t play very attractive soccer. I believe the two can be combined. We are far from perfect in this endeavor, but this premise remains our foundation and objective.”

Lewis’ coaching background includes serving 10 years as an assistant and head coach at the high school level, serving as a clinician at numerous soccer camps and actively participating in short-term sports ministry mission trips. He holds USSF and NSCAA Advanced National Coaching Licenses. As a player, Lewis earned All-Conference, All-District and All-American honors and played two seasons with Athletes in Action in the former Western Soccer League.

Lewis is an ordained minister and holds a bachelor’s degree in religion/philosophy, as well as Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He has performed more than two dozen weddings of former Houghton students, the majority being Alumni of Houghton Women’s Soccer.

The Highlanders Under Lewis