Men's Soccer Alum Luke Spencer Part of Group Named Interim Managers of Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Xavier men's soccer alum and USL standout Luke Spencer was recently part of a trio of players named to a joint interim head coaching role for Louisville City FC.

Spencer and fellow players George Davis IV and Paolo DelPiccolo will coach the team for the first time as their side takes on Tampa Bay on Saturday, July 7.

"I'm thrilled for Luke. They could have picked anyone and they picked him, not just to be in the three but to lead the group of three coaches," said Xavier head coach Andy Fleming. "Based on our conversations and seeing his media handling, he's hit the ground running. His mind for the game, rapport with the players and temperament will help tremendously."

"A coach always loves to produce coaches and we've built quite a tree here. We currently have two collegiate head coaches, assistants in the ACC and Pac-12, three associate head coaches in Division I and two Division III assistants who cut their teeth at X. Three of these guys have USL and/or MLS youth academy experience. Our assistant coaches are the "X factor" in our program and it's well known across the country."

Former head coach James O'Connor departed the team for the same role with Orlando City SC in MLS, leading to a unique situation as Louisville City FC continues its season through October.

The Cincinnati native has experience coaching, spending a year on staff at Xavier in 2015 before returning to continue his playing career with FC Cincinnati and then Louisville City FC. He will be the first XU soccer alum to function in a head coaching role for a USL franchise.

Spencer, who is currently out with an injury, helped lead Louisville to the 2017 USL Championship and takes over a franchise riding high as the only USL team in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.

SPENCER AT XAVIER

Spencer originally came to XU via Winton Woods High School and was the first Xavier soccer player to be taken in the draft when he was selected 23rd overall by the New England Revolution.

Spencer had a career-year as a senior in 2012, helping the Musketeers reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cincinnati-native scored 14 goals, leading the Atlantic 10, and had eight assists. He finished his career with 29 goals and 21 assists, while his 79 points still rank third in program history.

He was named to the Atlantic 10 First Team and NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic First Team in 2012 after leading the A-10 -- and ranking in the nation's top 25 -- in points per game and total points.

The 6-foot-2 forward was the lone striker during the final three years of his career, spurring the Musketeers to two Atlantic 10 Championships and three-straight NCAA Tournaments.

AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE

• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last eight seasons.
• The Musketeers have won 10 or more matches in seven of the last eight seasons.
• Xavier was the only program in the nation with five consecutive major conference awards from 2012-16, including 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Cory Brown.
• XU has qualified for five consecutive BIG EAST Championships, including trips to the title game in 2014 and 2017.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last six years by the United Soccer Coaches.
• In 2015, XU knocked off the national No. 1 (Creighton) and No. 2 (Notre Dame) on the road last season. The Musketeers are widely believed to be the first program to ever knock off both a No. 1 and a No. 2 on the road in the same season.
• Four XU players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last seven years, including 2018 third rounder Cory Brown.

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