Slippery Rock University Athletics

Former women's professional football player and NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship recipient Lisa Horton was named the inaugural head coach of the women's flag football program at SRU and will begin her duties July 1, 2026. Horton is charged with building a new program with SRU set to begin competing during the spring semester of the 2027-28 academic year. 

In addition to her role as head coach of the flag football program, Horton also serves as an offensive assistant and tight ends coach on the SRU men's football staff, a role she has been in since 2023. 
 
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• SRU marks her first collegiate football coaching role after putting together a storied career in Women’s Professional Football with the Pittsburgh Passion.
• Slippery Rock's men's football program has compiled a record of 30-8 in Horton’s three seasons on head coach Shawn Lutz’s staff.
• Helped coach tight end Kam Kruzelyak to honorable mention All-America honors in addition to garnering All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division accolades.
 
COACHING TIMELINE
• 2026-Present: Slippery Rock Flag Football (head coach)
• 2024-Present: Slippery Rock Football (offensive assistant/tight ends)
• 2024 (Summer): Dallas Cowboys (NFL coaching fellowship)
• 2023: Slippery Rock Football (offensive assistant)
• 2022 (Summer): Cleveland Browns (NFL coaching fellowship)
• 2018-Present: Pittsburgh Passion Women's Pro Team (co-head coach/offensive coordinator)
 
CAREER PATH
• Led the Pittsburgh Passion women's flag football team to the inaugural WFA national championship in 2025
• Named as one of the Pro Coaches of the Year in 2024 by the Women's Football Alliance
• In 2022, Horton was awarded the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Cleveland Browns and worked with the NFL staff in Cleveland as an assistant running backs coach that summer. She also worked with the Dallas Cowboys in the fellowship program in 2024. 
• Represented the U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team as an assistant coach in the 2022 IFAF World Championships in Finland.
• After finishing her playing career, Horton stepped into a coaching role with the Pittsburgh Passion, where she still serves as co-head coach and offensive coordinator.
 
ATHLETIC CAREER
• Horton began playing professionally for the Passion in 2003 and would go on to serve as the team’s starting quarterback for most of 15 years, eventually retiring in 2018 after passing for more than 18,000 yards and throwing 256 touchdown passes.
• Was a 14-time all-star selection and was named the league MVP four times while leading the Passion to three national championships. After her career, Horton was enshrined in the Women's Pro Football Hall of Fame and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.
• A two-sport athlete collegiately. Was Baldwin Wallace’s leading setter as a freshman and sophomore (2,360 assists / 81 aces) on the volleyball team before transferring to Cleveland State where she appeared in 100 games over junior and senior seasons for the Vikings’ softball team

PERSONAL
• Native of Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
• Earned a bachelor's degree from Cleveland State University in 2001 and her master’s degree in exercise science and wellness promotion from The Rock in 2003.