For the first time since the turn of the century, Pete Beers will report to work at a place other than Lancaster Bible College beginning this January. Beers, a Lancaster Bible employee for 25 years, has resigned his Director of Athletics post effective December 31, 2024, ending a run that saw him transform the Lancaster Bible Athletic Department and enhance the traditional undergraduate experience.
 
Beers served as Director of Athletics at Lancaster Bible from 2000-21, before a three-year tenure as Vice President for Traditional Undergraduate Education. He took over his old post earlier this year, guiding the Chargers through their 15^th fall season as full NCAA Division III members.
 
Before Lancaster Bible could even dream of becoming an NCAA Division III institution, it was Beers who spearheaded the charge to transform the athletic department from a school with six sports and 65 student-athletes in 2000, to an athletics program with 18 sports and 300 student-athletes this year. Through hard work and grit in the early days, Beers helped the Chargers grow, both as director of athletics and head men's basketball coach. Beers guided Lancaster Bible to its first-ever NCCAA East Region Championship in 2007 and won it again in 2011, as the Chargers made three trips to the NCCAA National Tournament during Beers' coaching tenure.
 
As Lancaster Bible's team became more competitive, Beers led the way in adding sports in the later part of the 2000s, as the Chargers added men's & women's cross country and men's & women's tennis in 2008, following the addition of women's soccer in 2002. With the additional sports, Lancaster Bible began the process of becoming an NCAA Division III member in 2007 and was granted full membership with the beginning of play on September 1, 2010, which the Chargers celebrated by hosting a tripleheader of women's soccer, men's soccer, and women's volleyball contests, one of the banner days of Beers' 25 years.
 
As the athletic program grew at Lancaster Bible, more changes took place, as the Chargers joined the North Eastern Athletic Conference (now the United East Conference) for the 2011-12 academic year, which also served as Beers' final year as men's basketball coach. His 141 career victories are still the most in Lancaster Bible Men's Basketball history.
 
Following the decision to step down from coaching, Beers began one of the signature ideas of his tenure – hiring full-time coaches. The trend began with Marshall Tague who replaced Beers, and eventually led to hiring full-time coaches for nearly every sport offered at the college. Many of the full-time coaches enjoyed great success at the college, which continued to grow the platform for Christ, as Lancaster Bible teams not only represented the school at NCCAA National Tournament events, but NCAA Division III National Tournament events.
 
The final few years of Beers' tenure as Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics featured the addition of more sports, more coaches, and enhanced facilities, including a renovation to the Horst Athletic Center, and the construction of the Donald H. Funk Field at Willis & Martha Herr Stadium. The stadium is used for athletic events, intramural sports, LBC's Commencement, and hosts several Manheim Township Soccer Club events each week. The stadium and gym are used on campus every day by members of the Lancaster Bible community, as well as the community at-large, a lasting symbol of Beers' leadership and drive to bring the classroom of athletics to the forefront.
 
In April of 2021, Beers switched roles at the college and began a three-year stint as the Vice President for Traditional Undergraduate Education, where he led the enrollment efforts at the college and oversaw Athletics and Student Affairs. All three departments thrived over the course of his time in administration, as Beers dove into the new challenge, much like he did in 2000.
 
Beers' ability to take on new challenges and strive for great things is something Lancaster Bible President Dr. Tommy Kiedis said the college will miss with Beers' departure.
 
"I am incredibly grateful for Pete Beers and his 25-year contribution to Lancaster Bible College," Dr. Kiedis said. "The Lord has used Pete to build a respectable and highly competitive NCAA Division III program, one that lives out the Athletics Mission: To pursue excellence through athletics and cultivate Christ-centered relationships that impact others. Anyone who follows Lancaster Bible Athletics sees this in word and actions on and off the field of competition. Pete's efforts have bolstered our athletic department and enrollment in big ways. We'll miss Pete - his smile, energy, tenacity, as well as his love for the Lord, our employees, students, and fans – and at the same time we are delighted for the opportunity God has put before him."
 
As Beers reflected on his time recently, he spoke of impact, something he has clearly had on the community of Lancaster Bible College.
 
"I am leaving with a heart full of love and gratitude for the time that my family has had with Lancaster Bible College," Beers said. "Whether it was in athletics or enrollment, I tried to bring my best each and every day to make a positive impact in the lives of student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues for the glory of God."
 
Beers also said while he is pleased with the improvements and progress made on campus over the past 25 years, it's the relationships he has cherished the most.
 
"Progress has been made over the years, but even more than the tangible improvements, have been the relationships I have made serving with so many wonderful people," Beers said. "I am not able to thank everyone, but would like to thank Presidents Dr. Peter Teague and Dr. Tommy Kiedis, for their individual belief and support in me as we pursued improvement in any area we undertook. My wife and family are grateful to all that we have received from Lancaster Bible and wish only the best for the institution in the future."
 
Though he will no longer report to work at Lancaster Bible College, the impact and legacy Beers leaves at the institution will be felt for many years to come. From a tiny school looking to find its way in the classroom of athletics 25 years ago, to a competitive NCAA Division III program that features 300 student-athletes advancing the kingdom of God today, Beers has been the driving force behind all the success of Lancaster Bible College Athletics.
 
A national search for a new director of athletics will begin immediately.