Dunn Named Men’s Soccer Coach at Purdue University Northwest

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Luke Dunn, the Head Coach of the Viterbo University Men's Soccer team, has officially announced that he has accepted the Head Coaching position for the Purdue University Northwest Pride's Men's Soccer team.

Dunn, an Angola, Ind. native, joined the V-Hawks in 2018 as his first head coaching job. Prior to that, he had been an assistant coach for Purdue Northwest for three seasons, and men's and women's goalkeeper and assistant coach at Trine University for the 2015 season. On the club level, Dunn coached the Chicago Fire Juniors South and Hobart Soccer Club teams from 2016-2018.

Dunn played NCAA Division I Men's Soccer at Valparaiso University (Ind.) as a midfielder from 2010-2013. He was a three-time recipient of the Valparaiso University Student-Athlete Presidential Honors. During the 2014 fall, Dunn served as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Crusaders.

Viterbo Athletics Director Barry Fried said of Dunn:

"Luke has done a terrific job with our men's soccer program.  I'm very grateful for his hard work and commitment over the past five years. We'll definitely miss him, but he's earned this new opportunity and I wish him nothing but success moving forward."

Dunn's first season was a 2-13-1 campaign that saw his first win as a collegiate head coach on Saturday, September 1, a 1-0 victory over Finlandia University (Mich.). Seven student-athletes were named Scholar-Athletes.

In 2019, the V-Hawks improved to 7-9-1. Dunn won his first road game as a head coach, defeating Moody Bible Institute 1-0 on August 31, and Viterbo won four straight games from in September, outscoring their opponents 9-3. Andrew Weddle was Dunn's first All-Conference performer, being named to the All-A.I.I. Second-Team as a Freshman. Six other V-Hawks were named conference Scholar-Athletes, including Evan Espelien being named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

The V-Hawks continued to improve in 2020, going 10-2 for their first double-digit win season since 2009. Dunn earned his first conference win, defeating Bacone (Okla.) 3-1 on October 16. VU went 3-0 in conference that season, earning a spot in the conference tournament. Overall, Viterbo outscored their opponents 39-6 and went on a nine-game winning streak. The V-Hawks had two All-Conference performers and two NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

2021 saw the most wins in a season for the V-Hawks since 1999, as Viterbo went 16-1-1. The lone loss of the season came in the conference tournament, a 0-1 loss to Bellevue. The V-Hawks allowed the least amount of goals in a season ever, 7, and .917 is the best single season winning percentage in school history. During a 16-game winning streak in the middle of the season, the longest Viterbo win streak ever, the V-Hawks outscored opponents 82-6. Six V-Hawks received All-Conference recognition, including the Newcomer of the Year, and the team led the conference in scoring.

A 15-2-1 season in 2022 saw the V-Hawks earn their first NAIA Top 25 Ranking in over 20 years, reaching #24 the week of October 19. Viterbo started the season 11-0, and their two losses came in Georgia, one to Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) opponent Georgia Gwinnett, and the other to Florida National in the CAC Conference Tournament. The V-Hawks posted their best ever home record, 7-0-1, and beat their own school record from the year before, conceding only 6 goals. Five V-Hawks were named First-Team All-Conference, including the Goalie of the Year, and three made Second-Team.

"I am excited for this new opportunity at Purdue University Northwest, but I know it would not be possible without the help of many others along the way. Thank you to Viterbo University and Barry for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach and lead the men's soccer team. Thank you to the coaching staff and support staff for the countless numbers of hours they have put in over the past 5 years to help this program succeed. Thank you to the men's soccer alumni for their constant support of the program. Finally, thank you to the players and families for trusting Viterbo and I to provide a great academic and soccer education and always giving 100% to the team both on and off the field. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity I was given."