Coaches

Luke Christiansen

Luke Christiansen is in his second year as Head Women's Lacrosse Coach. Christiansen is also the head coach of William Penn's men's program.


Christiansen took over the women's program midway through the 2023 season and led the Statesmen to a 4-3 record. He has guided five all-Heart of America Athletic Conference players, six Heart Scholar-Athletes, and six NAIA Scholar-Athletes.


Hired to be the men's coach in the spring of 2018, he spent the 2018-2019 school year recruiting over 35 individuals for the inaugural men's campaign. He also started the women’s program and recruited 18 individuals.


He came to WPU from East Carolina University where he served as head coach of the university’s club team during the 2017-2018 school year. He guided the squad to an 8-3 record, quadrupling the win total from the previous season. ECU also defeated North Carolina State for the first time in 11 years and Elon for the first time as division opponents.


Under his guidance, ECU finished with the highest RPI ranking in program history, while his face-off man led the country in win percentage. ECU broke the school record for scoring average as well.


Prior to his time at ECU, he was the head coach of the Chico Rebels Lacrosse club team for a year. He enjoyed his most prominent role, however, as the Spain’s national team coach from 2014 to 2016.


At Chico, he directed instructional programming for over 120 boys and girls and guided the varsity team to its first-ever state title.


He became the winningest coach in Spanish national team history and developed the top defense in its history by setting records for goals against and goals against average.


Christiansen was the director of recruiting for his alma mater Southern Virginia University from 2012 to 2014. His recruiting efforts netted an Inside Lacrosse Top 50 recruit as well as a transfer from Syracuse University.


Christiansen has also spent time as the head coach at Camden Military Academy (2011-2013) and as the assistant coach and recruiting director at Utah State University (2009-2010).


While at CMA, the team made consecutive state semifinal appearances. During his tenure at USU, the program owned its lowest goals against average ever and posted the first shutout in its history.


As an undergrad at Southern Virginia, he competed in lacrosse and football.


Christiansen graduated from SVU with degrees in Creative Writing and Spanish. He also received Master’s degrees in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design and Sports Management from Missouri Baptist University.


In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Christiansen is also a photography instructor at William Penn.


Christiansen resides in Pella with his wife Abigail and their children Dean, Maddux, Jude, Ash, Esme, and River.


Christiansen's Coaching Career at William Penn.