A 1990 graduate of Glenbrook North High School, Steve began his wrestling career as a freshman. His top honor was finishing second in the state his senior year at 125 pounds. As a wrestler for the University of Illinois, Steve qualified for the NCAA all four years, earning All-American honors three times. He took fifth, fourth, and, in 1995, won the 1995 NCAA title, beating Lincoln McIlravy (then a two-time NCAA champion from Iowa) in the 150-pound final. Steve still holds the Illini record for most wins in a season with 44 victories during his 1992-93 season. Named Illinois' Most Valuable Wrestler in 1993, 1994 and 1995, Steve claimed the university's Athlete of the Year title in 1995 and won the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Steve was also named Academic All-Big Ten in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and was an All- American Academic Team member in 1994 and 1995 and a GTE Academic All-American in 1995. He graduated with a degree in marketing and earned his master's in advertising, also from the U of I. In freestyle competition, Steve won the national championship at the 1998 U.S. Open and represented the USA in the 1998 World Championship in Tehran, Iran. Other International honors included winning the gold in the 1997 Pan American Games and silver medals at the 1998 Goodwill Games and World Cup. After serving as an assistant coach for seven seasons at Illinois, Steve took over the Elmhurst College head coaching position for the 2002-2003 season. In 16 seasons as the Bluejays' head coach, he has led his team to seven conference championships and coached four individual National Champions, 27 All-Americans, 49 conference champions, and 10 conference outstanding wrestlers. Elmhurst has finished in the NCAA Division III top-10 seven times, with the 2013 team finishing second. Steve was also voted the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2013. In addition to coaching at the college level, Steve has been the head freestyle coach for Team Illinois since 2003, helping lead the team to seven Cadet national championships and seven Junior national championships. Steve and his wife Becky reside in Elmhurst with their daughters, Abigail and Delia.