Coaching Experience

Assistant Coach, Cornell University (2022-present)

Associate Head Coach, Chowan University (2021)

Assistant Coach, Chowan University (2018-20)

Education

B.A., Criminal Justice, Lees-McRae (2012)

M.S., Organizational Leadership, Chowan University (2022)

At Cornell

Luke Staats enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Cornell men's soccer program.

His first season at Cornell was a successful one as the Big Red posted its fourth consecutive 10-win season, registering a .763 win percentage thanks to a 14-4-1 overall record. In Ivy League play, Cornell finished in second place for the second consecutive season after going 5-1-1 in Ancient Eight play. Offense was the Big Red's strong suit as it established program records in assists (40) and points (120). Cornell's 40 goals scored were the fourth time in program history it had reached the 40-goal plateau, joining the 1971, 1995, and 2012 campaigns.

Along with its offensive success, Cornell averaged a shade over one goal allowed per game (1.01), leading to freshman Ryan Friedberg in being named the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year — the fourth first-year goalkeeper to be awarded the top newcomer by the Ivy League. Due to the Big Red's stout defense, Cornell made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2012, reaching the Third Round of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship where it lost to Syracuse, 1-0. Prior to its setback to the Orange, Cornell defeated Maryland, 2-1, in a second-round match at Berman Field. Then-sophomore Danny Lokko scored twice in the victory for Cornell. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, Cornell had seven players receive All-Ivy distinctions, including Connor Drought, Emeka Eneli, and Brandon Morales being named First Team All-Ivy selections.

Prior to Cornell

Staats arrives on East Hill after a four-year tenure at Chowan University, serving as an assistant and associate head coach.

In 2021, his first season as associate head coach, Staats helped lead the Hawks to a historic season. The program posted its most wins in Division II history (13-4-2), along with a number of firsts: a Conference Carolinas Tournament championship, NCAA Tournament bid, NCAA tournament win and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, as well as its highest final national ranking (No. 14).

Chowan went 7-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the conference en route to a fourth straight Conference Carolinas semifinals appearance during the COVID-rescheduled spring 2021 season. Staats would assist in the development of five Conference Carolinas all-conference selections. In 2019, he helped lead the program to an 11-5-1 overall record and 8-1-1 to help earn the conference's regular season title, the first in program history. During his first season with the Hawks, Staats helped the program to an 11-4-2 overall record and 7-3-0 mark in Conference Carolinas play and the program's first-ever appearance in the Conference Carolinas Championship Final.

In four seasons in Murfreesboro, N.C., Staats helped Chowan to a 42-15-6 overall record, including a 28-6-3 league mark.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Staats played professionally in the Netherlands for SV Spakenburg and FC Volendam as a defender. He is still active as a player within a USL League Two summer league at Lionsbridge FC in Newport News, Va.

Staats played four seasons of soccer at Lees-McRae (2008-12). He guided the team to three conference regular season and tournament titles, four straight NCAA Appearances, two trips to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 and a national championship finalist appearance. His efforts named him an All-America and all-region nod, as well as three-time all-conference accolades.

Personal

A native of Almere, the Netherlands, Staats earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Lees-McRae in 2012  and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Chowan in 2022.