When somebody told California (Pa.) quarterback Peter Lalich about a tweet Thursday that said football coach John Luckhardt was retiring, he had a tough time believing it.
How could he, Lalich thought. Luckhardt is Cal football.
“I didn't think it was going to happen, but I guess it doesn't surprise me,” Lalich said. “He's been coaching a long time.”
Luckhardt's long and successful career came to an abrupt end yesterday with a statement issued by the school — as Luckhardt put it, the end of a 40-plus-year “Carnival cruise.”
He had an 88-33 record in 10 seasons at Cal, including three trips to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
The primary reason for Luckhardt's retirement was his health; he missed the final game last season after he was hospitalized with a kidney infection.
Luckhardt said he has shed nearly 30 pounds but questioned whether he could still put in 80 hours a week.
“I've never been talented, never been good looking, never been smart,” Luckhardt said. “But I've always had that Western Pennsylvania work ethic, and I just can't go in and work a half a coach's week.”
Cal has not determined Luckhardt's successor, but contenders could include defensive coordinator Mike Conway and offensive coordinator Mike Kellar.
Conway has been with Cal since Luckhardt arrived prior to the 2002 season. Conway was Luckhardt's offensive coordinator from 2004-08 and was head coach at Concord (W.Va.) before returning last fall.
Under Luckhardt, who had a 137-37-2 record in 17 seasons at Washington & Jefferson, Cal won three consecutive NCAA Regional championships (2007-09), a stretch of dominance that included the program's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title in 14 years in 2008.
“He was definitely the head man,” said linebacker Brett Diamond, a preseason All-American as a senior this past fall tearing his ACL during training camp. “You always knew who was in charge.”
Added tight end Blake Williamson, a Chartiers-Houston graduate and rising senior, “It's going to be tough without him.”
Luckhardt made a name with his recruiting tactics, granting players who started at bigger schools second and third chances.
Take Lalich, who was booted from the team at Virginia for alcohol-related issues. Lalich was recruited by Luckhardt — even taking Lalich to an alcohol treatment center to make sure he didn't have a legitimate problem — and thrived, completing 63.3 percent of his passes last fall for 3,725 yards and 31 touchdowns.
“The respect I had for him and that other people had for him … he was the man,” Lalich said.
Luckhardt, who played center on Purdue's 1967 Rose Bowl-winning squad, said he will take on a consulting, fundraising and scouting role with Cal. He also will travel to Richmond to visit his two granddaughters and spend more time with his wife of 43 years, Barbara.
“I planned on going one more season, but my biggest concern was, ‘What if we got to the fifth game of the season and I couldn't finish?' ” Luckhardt said. “I'd wind up becoming more of a distraction than if we decided to do it now.”
Jason Mackey is a freelance writer.
