Luke Bengtson starts his first season as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse in 2018. He will serve as the Eagles' offensive coordinator and work in the intercollegiate athletics equipment room.
He comes to UWL after serving as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Fairmont State University (W.V.) in 2017. The Falcons finished 8-3 overall last season, including a second-place finish in the Mountain East Conference with a 8-2 record. Bengtson's special teams tied for the most blocked punts in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II last year with five. Fairmont State (W.V.) led the Mountain East Conference in net kickoff coverage while ranking second in kickoff return average. He assisted in offensive game planning for the Falcons working specifically with the passing game.
Prior to arriving in Fairmont State (W.V.), Bengtson was in charge of quarterbacks and wide receivers and was the recruiting coordinator at Greensboro College (N.C.) during the 2016 season.
In 2015, Bengtson was an assistant offensive coach at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa, working primarily with wide receivers and tight ends. Dowling Catholic were the Iowa Large Class (4A) State Champions with a 13-0 record in 2015. Seven players were named first team all-state from the 2015 state championship team as the offense led the state in scoring at 44.0 points per game.
Bengtson was a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks under head coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney in 2014, serving as offensive quality control/assistant tight ends coach. His tenure at Arkansas was highlighted by wins over LSU, Ole Miss at home and Texas 31-7 in the "Texas Bowl" in Houston. Bengtson coached the Mackey Award Winner, Hunter Henry, as the nation's best tight end.
He was a member of the 2012 University of Connecticut football program as a graduate assistant coach under Paul Pasqualoni. He was the assistant offensive line coach as well as assisted the offensive coordinator, George De Leone, with day-to-day duties of the overall offense.
Bengtson began his coaching career at the University of Central Missouri under head coach Jim Svoboda in 2010-2011, working with the running backs as a graduate assistant coach. Central Missouri advanced to the 2010 NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. He assisted with the Central Missouri High School Team Camps during his two years with the program.
In 2004 and 2005, Bengtson played wide receiver at Northwest Missouri State University and was a member of the 2005 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship. He finished his playing career at St. Cloud State University (Minn.), playing in 2006 and 2007 before becoming a student assistant coach for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He coached both the wide receivers and offensive line. Bengtson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from St. Cloud State (Minn.) and a master's degree in sports business and athletic administration from Central Missouri.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Bengtson attended Johnston High School where he was a two-time all-state wide receiver, setting several school and conference receiving records.
