In his third season as offensive coordinator at RMU is Gabe Luvara.
Luvara was a key piece in helping the Colonials post their first winning season in almost 10 years as RMU recorded an overall record of 7-5 (.583) in 2019, including a mark of 6-1 (.857) in the Northeast Conference.
Under the guidance of Luvara, two Colonials earned All-NEC First Team accolades in 2019, while two were named to the All-NEC Second Team. Running back Alijah Jackson and tight end Matthew Gonzalez each garnered All-NEC First Team honors, while offensive linemen Trevor Hicks and Bussy Remaley were named to the All-NEC Second Team.
Jackson finished second in the NEC in rushing (88.3 yards per game) and third in all-purpose yards (103.5 ypg) while registering five 100-yard rushing efforts. He also scored four touchdowns. Gonzalez, meanwhile, led the RMU receiving corps in 2019 with 34 catches for 562 yards and four touchdowns. He also ranks fifth all-time in program history for receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,473) and is tied for fourth for career touchdown receptions (17).
“Gabe is very structured and very detailed with everything he does," head coach Bernard Clark, Jr., said. "When I got the job, he was one of the guys I really wanted here. More than anything else, Gabe picks defenses apart. He does a great job watching film. He makes it simple for our guys while also making it complex for our opponents.”
In his first season with RMU in 2018, Luvara helped the Colonials average 24.6 points per game, more than double the total from a year prior. He was instrumental in the development of Gonzalez, who established a Robert Morris single-season record for touchdown receptions (12).
Prior to joining the staff with the Colonials, Luvara spent four years as the assistant offensive coordinator at Albany from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, he helped the Great Danes rank fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) by averaging 24.9 points per game, including 36 points in a comeback victory at New Hampshire, en route to an overall record of 7-4 (.636).
Luvara was instrumental in developing the passing game for the Great Danes in 2014, as his tutelage helped tight end Brian Parker earn All-CAA Third Team honors and sign as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers.
Prior to Albany, Luvara spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Frostburg State from 2010 to 2013. Under his direction, the Bobcats made huge strides on the offensive side of the ball, improving over 130 yards per game from his first season to his second, averaging 376 yards per game and 32 minutes of possession per game. In addition, the 2011 Bobcats threw for 2,234 yards, the fourth most yards in a season in school history, tossed 15 touchdowns, fifth best in school history, and ran for 1,528 yards, the most since 2002.
Prior to Frostburg State, Luvara spent three season as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Ithaca College. He helped the Bombers make two NCAA Division III playoff appearances and during his tenure Ithaca finished with an overall record of 24-8 (.750). The offense under Luvara for the Bombers ranked in the top 30 in the nation in total offense (26th in 2007 and 25th in 2008), scoring offense (20th in 2008), pass efficiency (29th in 2008), turnover margin (29th in 2009) and fewest turnovers (eighth in 2007).
In 2008, Luvara’s offensive line was selected by the Empire 8 Conference as the league’s player of the week, marking the first time in the league’s history that a weekly award was given to a unit and not an individual player. A total of 18 offensive players were named to the Empire 8 all-conference teams under Luvara’s leadership.
Luvara was an assistant at Juniata from 2005-07 after spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Duquesne in 2003 and 2004. On the Bluff, he helped the Dukes to the 2004 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title and a 2003 Division I-AA Mid-Major National Championship.
As a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville from 2002-03, Luvara handled scouting reports, ran scout teams and assisted the offensive staff. During his time there, the Cardinals posted 16 wins and a made two GMAC Bowl appearances.
Luvara is a 2001 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where he was a four-year letterwinner. He helped lead IUP to three NCAA Playoff appearances from 1999-2001 and was named to the 2001 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Second Team. He earned his masters of science in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2008.
