Luke Schleusner

Luke Schleusner joined the Lobo Football program in December of 2024, and he serves as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for UNM.  He comes to New Mexico after a three-year stint at Idaho.

Over his 21-year coaching career, Schleusner has developed a reputation for his innovative offensive schemes and adaptability.

PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS

IDAHO (2022-24): Schleusner spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Idaho, running an offense that made the FCS playoffs in all three seasons.

In 2024, the Vandals despite losing its starting quarterback in the season opener, ranked 19^th nationally in the FCS in passing efficiency at 149.6, and 21^st in total first downs with 263, showcasing a ball-control offense that wore teams down. Jordan Dwyer earned FCS All-America honors after a season with 78 catches and 1,192 yards.  Schleusner’s offense rushed for 2,238 yards and featured three running backs with over 500 yards.

His previous offenses both ranked in the top 25 in terms of total offense and in the top 12 in team passing efficiency, led by the 2022 team which was fifth in the FBS at 168.07.  That 2022 also was second nationally in time of possession, holding the ball for over 35 minutes a game as Idaho returned to not just a winning record but the FCS playoffs.  The next season in 2023, the Vandals ranked third in time of possession as quarterback Gevani McCoy threw for over 3,000 yards, Hayden Hatten had 1,231 yards receiving and Hayden Hatten rushed for 1,155 yards.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (2014-21): Schleusner spent eight seasons with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, where he spent six seasons coaching tight ends before moving to passing game coordinator and receivers coach for his final two.

Schleusner coached Super Bowl Champion Dallas Goedert as well as Cam Jones to multiple All-America honors. Goedert was back-to-back All-America in 2016 and 2017.  In 2016 he recorded a school-record 92 receptions, accounting for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to becoming a unanimous All-America selection. He repeated as a unanimous All-American in 2017 after posting his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, recording team highs of 72 receptions and 1,111 receiving yards. Goedert went on to be selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

He also coached NFL Draft choice Tucker Kraft, who was selected in the third round by the Green Bay Packers. Kraft caught 90 passes as a redshirt freshman and 65 as a sophomore as a sophomore, earning FCS All-America honors.

Schleusner also coached All-MVFC tight ends Blake Kunz and Kallan Hart. After moving the receivers, he coached twin receivers Jaxon and Jadon Janke with Jaxon earned All-MVFC honors and Jadon ranking among the national leaders in yards per reception.

Schleusner also has played an instrumental role in coaching the Jackrabbits’ special teams units. Redshirt freshman Cade Johnson excelled on special teams during the 2017 campaign, establishing a single-season school record with 839 kickoff return yards. Johnson became the first Jackrabbit player since 1964 to return two kickoffs for touchdowns and later was honored on a pair of freshman All-America squads.

SDSU also ranked fifth in the FCS ranks with six blocked kicks in 2017 and was third with eight blocked kicks in 2018.

NORTH DAKOTA (2011-13): Schleusner spent three years at North Dakota, eventually serving as Offensive Coordinator UND, his alma mater.  He also coached tight ends and fullbacks as well as receivers, spending a season as passing game coordinator.  He helped the then Fighting Sioux to a Great West Football Conference title in 2011 and in 2010 UND’s offense set school records for passing yards and touchdowns.

At UND he coached future Pro Bowl receiver Kenny Golladay, who led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2017 when he recorded 11 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions.  Golloday’s sophomore season under Schleusner was his breakout campaign with 69 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.  He was eventually drafted in the third round by Detriot in 2017.

MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO (2005-10): At Minnesota State Mankato Schleusner started his full-time coaching career, spending six years with the Mavericks.  He served as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for four years and was elevated to Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers coach for his final two years.  Minnesota State Mankato made a huge turnaround during his time there, eventually making the Division II playoffs in 2008 and 2009, the first two playoff appearances for the Mavericks in 15 years.  While there Scheusner coached Adam Theilen, who in a two-time NFL All-Pro with over 10 seasons in the NFL.

WESTERN ILLINOIS (2002-04): Schleusner’s career began with a three-year stint at Western Illinois as a graduate assistant, starting as a tight ends coach for two years before adding the title of Special Teams Coordinator for 2004. It was with Western Illinois that he got his first taste of the postseason with a pair of postseason FCS playoff berths.

PLAYING CAREER – NORTH DAKOTA (1998-2001): As a player, Schleusner was an All-North Central Conference performer for North Dakota in 2001 as a wide receiver, helping the then Fighting Sioux to the 2001 Division II National Championship. As a senior he caught 57 passes including a 58-yard catch on fourth-and-four with under a minute to go to set up the game-winning touchdown in a 17-14 win over Grand Valley State in the National Championship game.  All told in 2001 he recorded 762 yards and eight touchdowns and he twice was an All-NCC Academic selection.