The 2019-20 season will mark Luke Lofthouse's fifth as a member of Coach Greg Williams' staff at Utah Valley.
Over the past four seasons, Lofthouse has helped 15 Wolverine grapplers qualify for nationals including a program-best six in 2018-19. Just last season, Lofthouse helped the team spend a school record 10 consecutive weeks in the NWCA Top-25 Coaches Poll as well as send a program-best six grapplers to nationals. He also helped crown the program's first Big 12 Conference champion in 165-pounder Demetrius Romero, as well as a UVU record five Wolverines earn podium finishes at the 2019 Big 12 Championships.
In 2017-18, Lofthouse helped the Wolverines break into the top-25 national rankings for the first time in program history by holding down the 25th spot as well as send a then record of five grapplers to the 2018 NCAA Championships.
In 2016-17, Lofthouse helped UVU pick up a pair of wins over ranked opponents -- by knocking off No. 23 North Dakota State in Fargo and No. 23 Oregon State of the Pac-12 at home -- to receive votes for the top 25 poll for the second time in program history.
During Lofthouse's inaugural year at UVU (2015-16), he helped the Wolverines pick up a 20-19 upset win at No. 18 Oregon State en route to receiving the program's first-ever votes for the top 25 poll. Lofthouse also helped five Wolverine grapplers earn a spot on the podium at the 2016 Big 12 Championship, two qualify for the 2016 NCAA Championships and senior Jade Rauser earn All-American honors for the first time in his career after placing eighth at 133 pounds.
Lofthouse comes to UVU after spending three seasons as the strength and conditioning coach for his alma mater at the University of Iowa. During his collegiate days, Lofthouse was an All-American wrestler for the Hawkeyes.
Lofthouse not only returns to his home state of Utah, as he hails from Avon, Utah, but also reunites with his nephews Ethen Lofthouse and Raider Lofthouse at Utah Valley as well. Ethen, who was recently promoted from a volunteer assistant to a full-time assistant at UVU, will work alongside Luke on Williams' staff while Raider will enter his redshirt freshman season at Utah Valley this fall after redshirting at 157 pounds for the Wolverines during the 2014-15 campaign.
Luke Lofthouse recently completed his third season as the strength and conditioning coach for coach Tom Brands at his alma mater of Iowa. Prior to his gig as the strength and conditioning coach for the Hawkeyes, Lofthouse capped his wrestling career with an All-American finish during his senior season (2011) by placing fifth in the nation at 197 pounds. That year he posted a 25-7 record and a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships. During his four-year career as a Hawkeye, Lofthouse compiled a 57-39 win-loss record and received UI's John & Dorothy Sill Award, which is presented to the team's most dedicated wrestler, during his senior season.
Lofthouse, who prepped at Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum, Utah, was a three-time Utah State Champion during his high school days. He went a combined 161-8 while at Mountain Crest and went undefeated during both his sophomore (41-0) and junior (43-0) seasons. Lofthouse was also a three-time Utah state wrestler of the year, as well as a Wrestling USA Academic All-American as a senior. He also set school records for most wins in a season (44) and career (161), least career losses (8), consecutive falls (35), and most falls in a season (41) and career (123) while at Mountain Crest.
Lofthouse was also a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in 2012.
He and his wife, Allison, have a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Lilly. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in heath sciences (health coaching emphasis).
