Soccer Coach Joe Luxbacher Inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

5/9/2005

Two-time Big East Coach of the Year and former Pitt student-athlete Luxbacher is one of 13 inductees honored.

PITTSBURGH –University of Pittsburgh head men’s soccer coach Joe Luxbacher was inducted into the Western Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame at its 35^th annual dinner Saturday evening held at the Pittsburgh Sheraton North in Warrendale. Luxbacher was one of 13 inductees including John Bruto, Joe Bugel, Jim Donahue, Joe Gordon, Jeannine Burger Landry, Jim Leyland, Carmie Price, Wil Robinson, Dave Roman, John Skorupan, Wilbur Trosch, and Andy Urbanic.

A two-time Big East Coach of the Year award winner in both 1992 and 1995, Luxbacher has served as the head men’s soccer coach at Pitt since 1984. He ranks among the nation’s top-50 NCAA Division I coaches in total wins with a 21-year career mark of 199-162-46. His teams have topped the 10-plus win mark six times.

Prior to making his mark as a coach, Luxbacher set the standard for individual scoring achievement as a Panther student-athlete. In his three-year varsity career from 1970-73, he established four school records including most goals in a game (seven vs. Edinboro, 1971), most points (15 vs. Edinboro, 1971), career goals (37) and career points (84). He led the Panthers in both points and goals in three consecutive seasons. He later went on to a professional soccer career from 1974-81, serving stints with the NASL’s Pittsburgh Atoms, ASL’s Pittsburgh Miners and MISL’s Pittsburgh Spirit.

A native of Beadling, Pa., Luxbacher earned three degrees from Pitt including his B.S. in Biological Studies in 1974, his M.Ed. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 1978 and a Ph.D. in Administration of Physical Education and Athletics in 1985. He serves as the founder and director of the Shoot-to-Score Soccer Academy, which offers instructional camps to youth players of all ages and is an accomplished writer, authoring 16 books on soccer and physical fitness.

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