Luke Bengtson is currently the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at Virginia Union. Bengtson joined the Virginia Union staff in 2022. In that 2 year stretch, the Panthers have won 19 games which are the most wins in a 2 year stretch in 40+ years at Virginia Union. They qualified for the NCAA Division Two Playoffs both years, and have been nationally ranked throughout, climbing as high as #10 Nationally. They won the 2023 CIAA Conference Championship, the school’s first title in 22 years. In 2023 the Panthers won 10 games, which was the most wins in 33 years at Virginia Union.
In that 2 year span, the offense has averaged 41.5 PPG in the regular season. In 2023, they averaged 40 Points Per Game in the regular season which was 1st in the CIAA Conference and #9 Nationally. They had the #1 Redzone Offense, #1 Rushing Offense, #1 in Rushing Touchdowns, #2 in Passing Efficiency, and #3 in Touchdown Passes.
In 2022, the Virginia Union offense averaged 44 PPG in the regular season which was 1st in the CIAA and #3 Nationally. The Quarterbacks led the CIAA in Touchdown Passes, Quarterback Rating (#17 Nationally), and 3rd down Conversion rating (#16 Nationally. They ranked 2nd in the CIAA in completion percentage and Senior Quarterback Jahkari Grant accepted an invite to play in the HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans as well as was named MVP of the Virginia State game. This past season, Luke was selected to coach in the prestigious HBCU Legacy Bowl where he was the Offensive Coordinator and coached the quarterbacks.
During the 2020/2021 Seasons, Bengtson served at Millikin University as the Big Blue’s Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Under Bengtson’s direction, the Millikin Offense turned in record setting performances.
Big Blue Offense Under Bengtson:
Fall 2021 Season
• Top Half of CCIW in Yards Per Game, Rushing, Passing (Fourth), Sacks Allowed (Third), 1st Downs, 3rd Down Conversions, Red Zone Offense
• Quarterback was Third leading Passer in Conference • Conference Season Second Best 651 Yards Total Offense Week 4
• Coached the 2nd Leading Receiver in Conference, Eighth and Ninth Leading Receiver in Conference
• Set Single Game Individual Passing Record in Millikin History Week 4 (391 Yards) and Single Game Team Total (431 yards)
• Beat Augustana in consecutive years for first time in 20+ years
Spring 2021 Season
• 32.3 Points Per Game Average (Third Most at Millikin in 17+ Years)
• 451 Yards Per Game Average (First at Millikin in 17+ Years)
• 313.3 Yards Per Game Passing
• 8:1 Touchdown to Interception Ratio
• Averaged 24 First Downs Per Game
• Offensive Line D3Football National Team of the Week 1
• Wide Receiver Named to National Team of Week 2
• Beat Rival Illinois Wesleyan for 1st time in 11 years
Prior to Millikin, Bengtson was the Tight Ends Coach at Chadron State College where he coached multiple all conference performers. Bengtson was heavily involved in the overall game planning on offense at Chadron State with specific responsibility for Red Zone game planning. In 2019, Chadron State was ranked 23rd nationally in Red Zone offense. Chadron State’s offense averaged 457 yards per game scoring 37 points and converting 23 first downs per game. Chadron state was ranked in the Top 25 nationally in all three categories and second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
Other recent positions include serving as the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in 2018 where they averaged 34.3 Points Per Game and 425 Yards per game of Total Offense as well as ranking in the Top 3 in the conference in every major statistical category.
In 2017, he served as Special Teams and Passing Coordinator\Wide Receivers Coach at Fairmont State University where they had one of the top Special Teams Units in the Country including leading the country in Blocked Punts.
Bengtson has coached in all three NCAA Divisions including the University of Arkansas (2014 season) where he served as Offensive Quality Control\Assistant Tight Ends Coach. Bengtson worked under Current Illinois Head Coach, Bret Bielema as well as Illinois Offensive Coordinator, Barry Lunney. Bengtson has coached all of the offensive position groups and has coached several players that went on to play in the National Football League.
In 2015, Bengtson was the Tight Ends Coach at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa when the program won the Iowa 4A State Championships with a 13-0 record and averaged 42 points per game.
In 2012, he was a member of the University of Connecticut football program as a graduate assistant coach under Paul Pasqualoni. He was the Assistant Offensive Line Coach as well as assisted the offensive coordinator, George De Leone, with day to day duties of the overall offense. The highlight of the season 2012 season was a win over a top 10 Louisville team and having eight players sign NFL contracts, including 5 draft picks that season.
Bengtson began his coaching career at Central Missouri under head coach, Jim Svoboda in 2010-2011, working with the running backs as a graduate assistant coach. Central Missouri had their best season in school history in 2010, finishing 11-3 with a top 5 national ranking. He coached two running backs that signed professional contracts while at Central Missouri.
After being a two-time All-State wide receiver in high school at Johnston High School in Iowa, Bengtson played collegiately at Northwest Missouri State University where he was a wide receiver on the 2005 national runner up team. He finished his collegiate career at St. Cloud State University. Bengtson earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health Education at St. Cloud State. He has a Master of Science in Sports Business and Athletic Administration at the University of Central Missouri.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Bengtson attended Johnston High School where he was an award-winning football and basketball player. A two-time all-state wide receiver, he set the state record for catches in a game and holds multiple conference and school receiving marks. He also helped the squad to the state playoffs for the first time in school history. On the basketball court, he was a multiple-time all-conference performer and led the team to the state tournament.
Luke and his wife, Witnee, were married in January of 2022.
What Former Players Say About Coach Bengtson:
"Playing for Coach B was truly an experience of a lifetime. Not only was I pushed for excellence physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. I was never allowed to become complacent which was fueled by his competitive edge as a man, husband, and coach.”
Christian Reid, Quarterback, Conference Champion Virginia Union 2023
“Coach B is a coach I will remember and look up to for the rest of my career as he has taught me a lot about the game of football and coaching. But what I will cherish the most are the talks about everyday life we had. I didn’t have that relationship with every coach I’ve had and I really appreciated that."
Jahkari Grant, Quarterback, Virginia Union
"Coach Bengtson is a man who is respectful, caring, and an awesome person to have in your circle. He has always been someone who puts the players first. "Players win the game." That was his main quote to us after every single practice and preached that saying every single day. He cares about players growing into mature young men, he has taught me so many life lessons that I will take into the real world and cherish for the rest of my life. The meals, talks, and memories we've created over the last 2 years, are what a coach and player relationship should be. He helped us to beat our rival, Illinois Wesleyan, for the first time in 11 years. 11 long years of losing to your rival, is the worst feeling in the world, but we as a team, believed in his play-calling and trust in us to help us pull out the upset. He understands the game of football and is one of the hardest working coaches I've ever met in my life to make sure we had the best game plan to defeat our opponents. I'm blessed to have him as a coach and I hope nothing but the best for this man for the rest of his coaching career!"
Cal Pohrte, Quarterback, Millikin University 2021
"When Coach Bengtson came to Millikin my Junior Year, I knew we got a great coach after talking with him for 10 minutes. I learned a lot from Coach B not only about football, but life. Coach B is a great man and a great football coach, he’s the kind of guy every staff needs. It’s been my pleasure to play for Coach B and I will cherish the relationship we built in my last 2 seasons at Millikin."
Brandt Williamson, Offensive Line, Millikin University 2021
“When Coach Bengtson came in I was blown away. Coach Bengtson is more than just a great coach. He taught us about life and explained to us that football will end and prepared me for the real world. On the field he taught me stuff about the game I never even thought of. He showed us how to watch film and understand a defense and the concepts we were using to attack them. He taught us the reads the quarterbacks were taking and the checks the Offensive Line were making. Coach Bengtson is more than just a great coach, he is a great human who elevated our program. Coach B is a coach I will stay in contact with the rest of my life.”
Matt Vargas, All Conference Tight End, Chadron State College 2019
“Coach Bengtson was a tremendous mentor to me while I was on campus. Although I did not have the opportunity to be coached directly by him as my position coach, I still had the opportunity to learn from him. He always had a great attitude when he was around campus and understood the game inside and out. I could tell that when he stepped on campus he had an array of knowledge to bring to the team and any position he coached. I was extremely excited myself after looking at Coach’s track record and just knowing where he had been and the accomplishments he achieved. When I would meet with Coach Bengtson over our offense he was able to break it down so I was able to understand it better. What I enjoyed most was having him up in the box being able to see the whole field and helping our OC call the plays. He understands the game far beyond anyone else I have seen and I could not be more grateful to have the opportunity to play for him.”
Cole Thurness, All Conference Wide Receiver, Team MVP, Chadron State College 2019
“Coach Bengtson is one of the hardest working coaches I’ve been around, always put in countless time and effort outside regular hours to make sure we were as prepared as possible. Expected the best out of his players and pushed us when necessary. Beyond that he took an interest in life outside of football, always checking in making sure everything was good.”
Jack Connelly, Quarterback, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse 2018
“To one of my favorite guys Luke Bengtson. You were more than just a great coach you were one of my role models. The first conversation we had I knew there was something different about you. Coach B always kept his word and made me understand there’s more to life than just football. Which I respected even more about him. Even with all the hype surrounding me you always found a way to keep me grounded by letting me know that there is still more work to be done if you want to be great. Coach B I appreciate you for being a great mentor and coach to me continue to be great and turn boys into men.”
Jamorris Warren, All American Wide Receiver, University of Central Missouri 2010
“Coach Bengtson was one of my favorite coaches I ever had. He taught me how to work and practice hard, but also taught me life lessons in the process. He is the type of coach you will want to have a relationship with after football, because he will always have your back and be there for you whenever you need him the most. “
Quentin Chavis, Quarterback, Greensboro College 2016
“One of the best coaches that I had the pleasure of being under would be Coach B. Every day he came with the same energy and enthusiasm to the field. He made sure that as an entire receiver core, that we did our job day in and day out. He wanted us to play to the best of our abilities. He was also a good person to talk to off the field and communicate with. He made sure I was always good no matter what. He’s a great person and I would suggest him to any university or job.”
Dana Jackson, Wide Receiver, Fairmont State University 2017
