# Steve Lawrence

> Steve Lawrence is CEO and a director of Academy Sports + Outdoors, roles he has held since June 2023. A former Academy customer and chief merchandising officer, he brings experience from Foley’s/May Co., J.C. Penney, Stage Stores and francesca’s to a strategy combining affordable essentials, more advanced merchandise and store expansion.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Director at Academy Sports + Outdoors
- **Organizations:** Academy Sports + Outdoors, francesca’s, Stage Stores, J.C. Penney, Foley’s/May Co.
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, University of Notre Dame
- **Known for:** Led Academy’s merchandising organization during company-record merchandise sales and gross profit in 2021, as credited in its 2023 succession announcement., Appointed Academy’s seventh CEO in June 2023., Led Academy during its April 2025 Jordan Brand introduction in 145 stores and online; 55 additional branded shops were announced in March 2026.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2012** — Spent 10 years at Foley’s/May Co. followed by nearly 12 years in merchandising leadership roles at J.C. Penney.
- **2012-05** — Became Chief Merchandising Officer at Stage Stores; served until September 2016.
- **2016-10** — Became President, CEO and a board member at francesca’s; served until January 2019.
- **2019-02** — Joined Academy Sports + Outdoors as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer.
- **2023-06** — Became Academy’s seventh CEO and joined its board, effective June 1.

## Achievements

- Led Academy’s merchandising organization during company-record merchandise sales and gross profit in 2021, as credited in its 2023 succession announcement.
- Appointed Academy’s seventh CEO in June 2023.
- Led Academy during its April 2025 Jordan Brand introduction in 145 stores and online; 55 additional branded shops were announced in March 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Discussed more advanced merchandise and new brand distribution at the Goldman Sachs consumer and retail conference on September 15.
- **2026-09** — Academy announced a planned early-October Hoka introduction in 15 stores and online.
- **2026-09** — Academy reported Q2 fiscal 2026 net sales of $1.6473 billion, up 3.0%, with comparable sales down 0.4% and e-commerce sales up 12.8%.
- **2026-08** — Publicly celebrated Academy opening in his hometown, McAlester, Oklahoma.
- **2026-04** — Addressed students through Texas A&M’s Flippen Leadership Institute Lead with Purpose series.

## Links

- Website: https://investors.academy.com/management/steven-steve-p-lawrence
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-lawrence-30269b11

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-lawrence
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21