Hall of Fame
Nine years after guiding the Cal U football program to a decade of unprecedented success, John Luckhardt will join six of his players as an inductee in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
A coach known for turning stagnant programs into champions, Luckhardt served as head coach of the Vulcans from 2002 through 2011.
He is Cal U’s winningest coach in program history with an 88-33 cumulative record and a .727 winning percentage.
Luckhardt concluded his Cal U coaching career by guiding the Vulcans to five-consecutive seasons of double-digit victories and the program’s initial five NCAA Playoff appearances, which included three-straight trips to the national semifinals. Cal U won or shared the PSAC West title in each of his final seven seasons.
Before coming to Cal U in May 2002, Luckhardt served as the head coach at nearby Washington & Jefferson for 17 seasons, compiling a brilliant 137-37-2 record. He guided the Presidents to 13 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) titles, 11 appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, five regional championships and two appearances in the Stagg Bowl (National Championship). He also served as athletic director at W&J for 12 years.
His initial Cal U team won six games and achieved the program’s first winning season in 15 years.
“I think anytime you enter a situation you look at a lot of different dynamics and we had tremendous administrational support that gave you the freedom to hire very good coaches,” Luckhardt said. “I learned a long time ago from my college coach at Purdue (Jack Mollenkopf) to surround yourself with the best people you can and let them coach.
“Those guys along with the recruiting, and great players were the foundation.”
After going 16-16 through their initial three seasons under Luckhardt, the Vulcans won eight games in 2005 and their first PSAC West title in 21 years. That season ended with a 38-23 victory at rival IUP, which ended a 20-year losing skid to the Crimson Hawks. Cal U would beat IUP six times in the following seven years.
“I think that was a tremendous statement for our kids and program that we’d arrived,” Luckhardt recalled. “It was the moment that everyone knew Cal was around and going to be around.”
Cal U closed the second half of the Luckhardt decade by winning 56 of 68 games with a 32-2 cumulative mark in PSAC West play. Under Luckhardt, the Vulcans featured CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and the program’s lone recipient of the prestigious PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
Luckhardt praised the athletic fundraising efforts and generous support of alumni donors, which included many past players.
“They are the unsung heroes because they believed in creating an opportunity for young people who in many cases would not be able to go on to college, but because of scholarships they were able to get their degree and move on with their lives.”
He started his coaching career at Purdue University, his alma mater, as a graduate assistant. He also coached the secondary and receivers for three years at Northern Illinois. Luckhardt was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for 10 seasons at Lehigh and helped the Mountain Hawks win the 1977 NCAA Division II National Championship.
As a player, Luckhardt was a center on the Boilermakers’ 1967 Rose Bowl champion team. At Purdue, he earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and his master’s degree in physical education and psychology.
He received the American Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 before being inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the W&J Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. From 1994-98, he served on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Directors.
Though he retired from Cal U in August 2012, Luckhardt follows the Vulcans and fifth-year head coach Gary Dunn closely.
“Gary and I talk pretty regularly and he has done a good job,” Luckhardt said. “Every year Cal U is in the hunt for a championship with a legitimate shot to go to the playoffs. I am proud of him.”
Dunn, who like Luckhardt, was a center on the football field, is looking forward to seeing him receive Cal U’s highest athletic honor.
“Coach Luckhardt is most deserving of this award and set a standard of excellence here with our football program,” said Dunn. “He truly cares about the Vulcans and for me it’s a privilege to be able to call him for his knowledge or exchange ideas with one of the most successful college coaches in our sport.”
Cal U Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe added “His [Luckhardt’s] vision of success turned our football team into a national power and his belief that anything is possible was uncompromising. His strength and energy were unbridled.”
Despite his remarkable success, the man affectionately referred to as “Lucky” emphasizes being good or great is a group effort.
“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out we had great players, great coaches, and support,” he said. “I’m not very original and just accumulated ideas from very successful programs I previously worked at and just tried not to screw it up.
“It was a great time, a great experience and something I am very proud of.”
Luckhardt and his wife, Barbara, reside in Peters Township and have two grown children, Allison Eckenrode and the late Matt Luckhardt. They also have three granddaughters.
updated 04/24/22
