Familiar with the Wisconsin hockey scene, with coaching positions throughout the state on his resume, in addition to his experiences around North America, Luke Strand is in his first season as associate head coach of the Wisconsin hockey program.
Born in the Philippines, Strand grew up in Wisconsin, and has spent much of his time in the state since skating for UW-Eau Claire in the mid-1990s. After obtaining a degree in kinesiology, with a minor in psychology of sport, he played professional hockey for the UHL's Madison Monsters and Kodiaks, before taking an assistant coaching position at NCAA Division III St. Norbert College in DePere. In three years at St. Norbert, the team reached two Frozen Fours.
Strand moved on to become an assistant coach and assistant general manager with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers from 2003-05. From there, he headed west, all the way back to UW-Eau Claire to become his alma mater's head coach for two seasons.
The AHL's Houston Aeros came calling next, which is where Strand worked with Constantine. There, he helped the Aeros improve 30 points in the standings in the first year, before the team reached the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals in his second season.
Strand then moved on to become the head coach and general manager of Sioux City (USHL) for the following two seasons (2009-11). He directed the Musketeers to a 58-47-15 mark during his tenure. While in Sioux City, he also served as an assistant coach for gold medal-winning Team USA at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge that was held in Penticton, British Columbia.
He returned to the AHL as an assistant coach from 2011-13, this time with the Abbotsford Heat.
"He has knowledge of the talent in the USHL and throughout North America," Head Coach Mike Eaves said. "With his days in Abbotsford, he made a lot of connections in British Columbia and Alberta. As far as recruiting and knowing people, he is widely versed and that is very much a positive for our program."
In 2013, Strand became a consultant with the Green Bay Gamblers. He also became the coach and director of player development with Team Wisconsin U-16, while returning to Sioux City as the team's general manager. Sioux City reached the Western Conference Finals during that season.
After one year, Strand moved on to direct the USHL's Madison Capitols as general manager and head coach for the program's first year in 2014-15.
"I think one of the things Luke will provide for me on a personal level is that he will push the boundaries," Eaves added. "When you have that kind of mind within your staff, you are going to look hard at different things and you are going to hammer out the plan and then you are going to execute the plan. That will be very much a positive.
