| Lee Royer | |
| Birth Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Death Date: | (aged 39) |
| Death Place: | near Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1953–1956 |
| Player Team1: | West Chester |
| Player Positions: | Fullback, linebacker |
| Coach Years1: | 1959 |
| Coach Team1: | Chester HS (PA) (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1960–1961 |
| Coach Team2: | Pennsylvania Military (line) |
| Coach Years3: | 1962–1963 |
| Coach Team3: | Pennsylvania Military |
| Coach Years4: | 1964 |
| Coach Team4: | Connecticut (assistant) |
| Coach Years5: | 1965–1966 |
| Coach Team5: | Boston College (DB/LB) |
| Coach Years6: | 1967 |
| Coach Team6: | VPI (DB) |
| Coach Years7: | 1968–1970 |
| Coach Team7: | Maryland (DB) |
| Coach Years8: | 1971–1972 |
| Coach Team8: | Navy (assistant) |
| Coach Years9: | 1973 |
| Coach Team9: | Lynchburg Baptist |
Harold Lee "Rock" Royer (– November 20, 1973) was an American football coach best known for his role as the father of Liberty University football. He was the school's first ever head coach before dying in a plane crash while caught up in tornadic winds in his Cherokee 6 on November 20, 1973.[1] [2] He also was a noted Baptist evangelist[3] and was known in collegiate football circles as "Coach Born Again".[4]
Royer left the United States Naval Academy, where he had served as defensive coordinator, to start up the football program at Lynchburg Baptist College, now called Liberty University. He served as the school's first head coach leading the Flames to a 3–3 record including three straight victories to end the inaugural season.[5] He also served as an assistant coach at Maryland[6] and he spent two seasons early in his career as head coach at Pennsylvania Military College, now called Widener University.[7]