How a Pittsburgh Passion tryout led Lisa Horton to Slippery Rock football’s staff and a future in coaching
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Slippery Rock University football assistant coach Lisa Horton throws the ball to a player during the first day of practice Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock University football assistant coach Lisa Horton watches players during the first day of practice Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock University football assistant coach Lisa Horton talks with a player during the first day of practice Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock University football assistant coach Lisa Horton demonstrates a drill during the first day of practice Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock University football assistant coach Lisa Horton throws the ball to a player during the first day of practice Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — Entering her freshman year in high school, Lisa Horton figured her football career was over.
Little did she know it hadn’t even begun.
“I played flag football through eighth grade and absolutely loved it,” the third-year Slippery Rock University assistant coach said. “But that game wasn’t offered in high school. Only the boys played on the football team, so I was done.”
But the then-Middleburg Heights, Ohio, resident became a three-sport high school athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball. She went on to become a standout setter for Baldwin Wallace College women’s volleyball and played 100 softball games for Cleveland State University.
Horton was working on her master’s degree in exercise science and wellness promotion at SRU when she made the decision that changed her life.
“The Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team was forming and they were having tryouts,” said Horton, who played quarterback for the Passion from 2003-18. “I figured I’d give it a shot.”
That shot morphed into a coaching career that currently sees her as a tight ends and offensive assistant coach with Slippery Rock.
“She’s always here,” Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said. “Her knowledge of the game is off the charts. She can’t get enough of it, and she works as hard or harder than anyone here.
“We’re just happy to have her. I know she won’t be here long. Lisa is definitely going to move on up. It’s a matter of when.”
Horton’s full-time job at SRU is as director of camps and clinics. She enjoys making an impact with The Rock. She helped graduated tight end Kam Kruselyak earn All-PSAC honors last season.
“Every day after practice, Lisa stays on the field with (the tight ends),” Lutz said. “She goes over technique, route running, everything. She never gets tired of football.”
Her goal is to become a full-time college football coach.
“You see women becoming more and more of a presence in sports, including male-dominated sports,” she said. “You’re judged by who you are as a coach and what you can bring.
“I want to make an impact as a coach, and the college level is where I believe I can make the biggest impact.”
Horton’s journey to coaching college football began while playing for the Passion. She threw for more than 18,000 yards and 256 touchdowns and was a 14-time all-star, four-time league MVP and won three national championships, earning a spot in the Women’s Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Her last three seasons with the Passion were as a player-coach.
“I gained so much knowledge of football during my time as a player. I had tremendous coaches and just soaked it up,” Horton said. “It didn’t take me long to decide I wanted to be a coach.”
Now she’s a co-head coach and offensive coordinator for the Passion since retiring as a player — the women’s season runs from April through July.
“The Passion impacted my life,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
Horton’s coaching resume includes a stint as an assistant coach on the United States women’s national team in 2022 at the International Federation of American Football World Championships in Finland. She’s also been an assistant coach in the offseason with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys through the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship.
After a year as an assistant football coach at Mars in 2022, Horton joined the SRU staff. She’s entering her third season with The Rock.
Coaching at SRU and with the Passion, Horton has little down time. She doesn’t mind it a bit.
“Whether you’re coaching women or men, football is football and coaching is teaching,” Horton said. “I love to teach, and it’s great coaching here because everyone is on the same page.
“It’s awesome working here. This really is a family.”
