Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

Former Southeast Missouri starting center Lucas Orchard begins his fourth year as the Redhawks offensive line coach.

Orchard moved to the full-time role after working two seasons as SEMO’s graduate assistant and one year as a student assistant.

Two of Orchard’s offensive linemen -- Nate Korte and Zack Gieg -- were named First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference. Gieg became only the third SEMO player to win the Rimington Award which goes to the top center in the Football Championship Subdivision. Carter Guillaume, a Second-Team All-OVC-Big South selection, landed a spot on the FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team under Orchard in 2024.

Orchard’s offensive line led the OVC-Big South and ranked 29th in the FCS in sacks allowed (1.46) during the 2024 campaign. The Redhawks also picked up a league-high 306 first downs which rated seventh nationally. 

A native of Vancleave, Mississippi, Orchard started every game of his two-year career with the Redhawks. In 2018, he was a Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection. 

Orchard transferred to SEMO after playing two seasons at East Central Community College. There, he played in nine games as a freshman and nine as a sophomore. Orchard earned Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Second-Team All-State accolades.