Respected Cal U Football Coach Retires

A respected college head coach has decided to retire after 10 years on the sidelines. Chartiers Valley High School graduate John Luckhardt announced last week he will retire Aug. 3. 

Luckhardt cited health concerns as a reason for calling it quits, according to California University of Pennsylvania's website. 

“This is an incredibly demanding job,” he said in a statement. “It has become obvious to me that I can no longer work at the level needed to lead this program most effectively.”

He transformed the Vulcans football program into a PSAC championship contender, led them to seven conference titles and three NCAA regional championships. 

Luckhardt, who now lives in Peters Township, also extended his leadership in the classroom. The Vulcans have had 68 PSAC Scholar-Athletes, seven CoSIDA Academic All-District selections and two Academic All-Americans, according to a release. 

Prior to his tenure at Cal, he coached at Washington & Jefferson College from 1982 to 1998. He was elected to the W&J Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007. He is a graduate.

Known as "Coach Lucky," he said in a letter to Acting University President Geraldine Jones he intends to remain "a vocal and active supporter" of the university.

Luckhardt and his wife, Barbara, have two children and two grandchildren. Cal U has not yet named Luckhardt's successor. 

This story originally appeared on Peters Patch