Tues., July 20, 2010

  FORT WAYNE, Ind. – With one hire, the University of Saint Francis athletic department filled three open coaching positions today.

USF Director of Athletics Mark A. Pope announced today that Luke Cummings has been selected to take charge as head men’s and women’s golf coach as well as an assistant men’s basketball coach under head coach Chad LaCross.

"During the interview process, Luke impressed me with his passion for understanding and developing leadership - a critically important skill for our student-athletes to develop,” Pope says.

“Luke has already prepared a thorough and complete plan for taking the USF Golf Program to the next level, and I believe that he has the talent and drive to achieve that plan. These attributes, coupled with his understanding of the local area and the markets that we serve, make Luke a great fit for USF Athletics. "

Cummings joins the USF staff after serving as head girls’ basketball coach in 2009-10 at Jay County High School. He guides JHS to a 16-7 record. He has also served as head coach of the boys’ basketball program at East Noble High School and Adams Central High School recently. Luke is a Kokomo High School graduate and earned an undergraduate degree at IU-Kokomo.

“I'm really excited about bringing Luke into our program,” LaCross said. “His preparation is great, and he definitely brings an energy and passion for athletics. I’m confident he will come in and build on the success we’ve had in golf at USF.”

Cummings takes over for LaCross, who has also coached the men’s and women’s golf teams the last five years for USF along with serving as assistant head basketball coach. Cummings most recently served as the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Jay County, where he guided the Patriots to a 16-7 record.

“I've had a great time coaching and teaching at Jay County,” Cummings said. “But to get an opportunity to move to the college level and with a national championship program is really exciting.”

He is married to the former Kari Ellenberger, and the couple has a 1-year-old son, Elliott.

Read more in The News-Sentinel

-- GO USF --