Clarion Athletics

Malen Luke was the talented Clarion University Head Football Coach for 12 seasons (1994-2005) producing some great players on the gridiron and very special teams. Arriving at Clarion from Defiance in 1994, Luke had a solid first season going 4-6 overall, setting the table for things to come. In 1995 Clarion fans were buzzing when the Golden Eagles opened up with a 6-1 record and 3-0 mark in the West. Although losing their final three contests by close margins, the table was set for a great 1996 campaign. Luke led Clarion to the NCAA semifinals in 1996 blazing a trail never seen by Clarion football fans. The Eagles posted an 11-3 overall record (including wins over Cal 45-14, SRU 54-28 and IUP 49-15), were PSAC-West Champs with a 5-1 record, NCAA D-II East Region Champs and voted Lambert Cup Winners by the ECAC - signaling Clarion as the top team in the East. The Eagles won two games in the NCAA Playoffs against Bloomsburg (42-29) at Memorial Stadium and at Ferris State (23-21) before losing in the final seconds of the NCAA D-II semifinals to Northern Colorado (19-18) at Memorial. Clarion set 10 team records in 1996 including records for wins (11), NCAA Playoffs, 77 td’s, points per game average (41.3) and many more. Injuries hit the Eagles hard in the next two seasons, but the Eagles bounced back in 2000 with a strong 7-4 overall record and a first place finish in the PSAC-West at 5-1. Luke’s 2002 team was also 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the West. Luke was voted 1996 NCAA Division II Region 1 and PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” and again PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” in 2000. He coached some amazing athletes at Clarion including Hall of Fame inductees Chris Weibel, Steve Witte, Kim Niedbala, Alvin Slaughter and Reggie Wells Jr. Wells, an offensive guard, went on to a stellar NFL Career mostly with the Arizona Cardinals and including Super Bowl XLIII February 1, 2009 vs the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Defensive Coordinator at Northwood University (Michigan), Luke retired in the Spring of 2020 after 14 years with the Timberwolves.  He is currently at Washburn University coaching with his son Brock. A native of Wellsboro, Pa. and a 1972 graduate of Wellsboro High, he is a 1976 graduate of Westminster and earned his Masters at Edinboro in 1982. Malen and wife Hedy have a son Brock and a daughter Quinn. Brock is a 2005 graduate of Clarion University.