Luke Lancaster enters his first season with the New Orleans Saints' strength and conditioning staff, serving a key role in delivering the team's training and performance program throughout the year under Director of Sports Performance, Ted Rath.
Prior to New Orleans, Lancaster spent the last seven years at Abilene Christian University, where he most recently served as the associate athletic director for sports performance for seven months, after being hired as director of sports performance in January, 2018. As part of his duties, he was responsible for the day-to-day strength and conditioning needs for the Wildcats football program. Prior to his tenure in Abilene, he served as a staff assistant for the Miami Dolphins, Harvard University, and University of Missouri strength and conditioning staffs, also helping with sports science and nutrition.
Prior to serving as a strength and conditioning staff assistant for the Dolphins for the 2016 season, who reached the postseason for the first time since 2008, Lancaster served as assistant strength and conditioning coach at Harvard from 2013-16. He worked with all 42 varsity sports for the Crimson, who boast the largest athletics department in the country and was the assistant strength coach for football. He also served as the head strength and conditioning coach for 10 varsity sports, including wrestling, track and field and men's and women's water polo.
While at Missouri, Lancaster worked as a sports performance intern and assisted with the 2013 Tiger football team that reached the SEC Championship. He also worked closely with the sports nutrition staff for Missouri, helping with pre and post-workout nutrition.
Lancaster obtained his bachelor's degree in from Northwest Missouri State University in 2013 where he played football as part of the 2009 NCAA Division II national championship team and worked as a strength and conditioning intern. In addition, he earned a Master's of Science degree in kinesiology from Hardin-Simmons University in 2019 and holds CSCS, SCCC, and USAW-1 certifications and is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
