Luke is the director of athletic performance for Penn State Track and Field and Cross Country. In his second year at PSU, he has aided in the development of some of the highest ranked athletes and event groups in recent history, including the top 10 finish of the women’s cross-country program, multiple school record holders in every event group, collegiate record holders, and Olympians.
Prior to PSU, Luke was a graduate research fellow and Performance coach at ETSU, where he assisted in the athletic development of multiple teams. Luke received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his master’s and PhD from East Tennessee State University. His dissertation investigated the biomechanics of post activation potentiation in the weightlifting clean. He was published in the journal of experimental physiology in his collaborative article regarding the monitoring and countermeasures of astronauts involved in long term spaceflight missions.
He holds certifications from the NSCA in both strength and conditioning (CSCS) and sports science (CPSS). He competes in weightlifting and Judo, and lives in State College with his dog Koda.