Missouri Southern State University Athletics

Stephen Hospital joined the Missouri Southern football coaching staff in 2026 as the Lions' offensive line coach.

Known as "Coach Doc," Hospital brings nearly a decade of coaching experience developing offensive linemen and coordinating productive rushing attacks at the collegiate, high school and professional levels.

Hospital came to Southern after spending the 2025 season as the offensive line coach at Methodist University, where he helped developed all-conference offensive lineman Semaj Miller.

Prior to Methodist, Hospital served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Elizabeth City State University in 2024. Under his guidance, the Vikings averaged 4.1 yards per carry on the ground, while the team's running backs more than doubled their rushing touchdown total from the previous season.

Hospital spent the 2023 season as offensive coordinator at Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida. During his tenure, the Stingrays improved by four wins while averaging 4.0 yards per rushing attempt.

He began his collegiate coaching career at Webber International University in 2022 as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The Warriors averaged 173 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry while allowing just 12 sacks, ranking among the top 30 NAIA programs nationally in sacks allowed. Webber also finished 15th nationally in third-down conversion percentage and third in red zone scoring percentage at 92 percent.

Before joining Webber, Hospital served as the offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Southeastern University in 2021, where he helped develop all-conference tight end Iyan Hinkle while completing his master's degree in kinesiology.

Hospital began his coaching career at Christ Church Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, where he coached the offensive line and served as co-offensive coordinator from 2016-20. During his tenure, the Eagles advanced to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) Florida State Final Four in 2016 and the Elite Eight in 2019. The 2019 squad also produced the most prolific offense in program history, totaling 3,668 yards of total offense.

His coaching experience also includes serving as an offensive assistant and assistant director of football operations for the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League during the team's 2017 championship season. He also interned with the linebackers at Jacksonville University in 2018.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Hospital founded and operated Doc's OL Academy in North Florida for six years. Through the academy, he trained offensive linemen and helped more than 30 student-athletes earn opportunities to continue their football careers at the collegiate level.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Hospital graduated from Mandarin High School and originally signed to play football at Stetson University before a car accident prematurely ended his playing career. He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from the University of North Florida in 2017 before completing his master's degree in kinesiology at Southeastern University.

Hospital and his wife, Marchea, reside in Joplin.