Joseph Luxbacher

Joe Luxbacher, PhD, has more than 30 years of experience playing and coaching soccer at all levels. An expert in the fields of health, fitness, and competitive athletics, he holds a doctorate in health and physical and recreation education. A former professional and collegiate soccer player, he has played in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League. He currently serves as the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Pittsburgh, a position he has held since 1984. His teams have won more than 200 games at the Division I level.

Widely respected by soccer coaches and players alike, Luxbacher has twice been named Big East Conference Soccer Coach of the Year. He has also earned an A coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation. Luxbacher was inducted into the Beadling Sports Club Hall of Fame in 1995, the Upper St. Clair High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also honored in 2003 when he was selected as a University of Pittsburgh Letterman of Distinction.

Luxbacher is the founder and director of coaching for Shoot to Score Soccer Academy, an organization that offers educational camps, clinics, and tournaments to players ages 7 to 18. Hundreds of young soccer players participate in Shoot to Score programs each year. He is the author of Soccer Practice Games-3rd Edition (Human Kinetics, 2010) and Attacking Soccer (Human Kinetics, 1999), and he wrote and produced the DVD series Winning Soccer in association with SportVideos.com.

Luxbacher, wife Gail, daughter Eliza, and son Travis live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.