Lyle Hartwell Announced as New Men's Basketball Coach

Word of Life Bible Institute is pleased to announce Lyle Hartwell as the new head coach of the men's basketball program. Hartwell will enter his first season leading the Huskies, bringing with him a strong background in coaching, player development, and ministry.

Hartwell is no stranger to Word of Life, having previously coached at the Bible Institute from 1999 to 2005. He most recently spent 10 years at Schroon Lake Central School, where he built a successful program and guided his teams to numerous accomplishments. His coaching resume includes two Northern Independence Conference championships at Word of Life, four divisional boys soccer titles at Schroon Lake Central School from 2021 through 2024, and a regional finalist finish with the NYS girls basketball program in 2025-26.

A native of Saratoga Springs, New York, Hartwell graduated from Saratoga Christian Academy in 1995 and attended Tennessee Temple University from 1996 to 1999. He also played collegiately at Tennessee Temple, where he continued to develop his understanding of the game and his love for competition.

Beyond basketball, Hartwell is deeply rooted in ministry and family. He has served as the lead pastor at Mountainside Bible Chapel in Schroon Lake since 2017. He and his wife, Becky, have been married for nearly 23 years and have two children, Austin and Olivia, both students at Word of Life.

Hartwell's combination of coaching experience, leadership, and Christ-centered vision makes him a strong addition to the Huskies athletics family.