Luke Perry was elevated to the position of head coach of the American International College men’s soccer team in August 2015 after previously serving two seasons as an assistant coach. His teams have reached the NE10 Tournament in each of the last four seasons it has been held.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Years: Head Coach (2015-present), Assistant Coach (2013-2015)
Career record: 48-47-13; 32-33-11 NE10
United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-Region Selections: 2
United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Region Selections: 1
NE10 All-Conference First-Team Selections: 2
NE10 All-Conference Second-Team Selections: 7
NE10 All-Conference Third-Team Selections: 9
NE10 All-Rookie Team Selections: 10
NE10 Academic All-Conference: 2
NE10 Presidents' Award For Academic Excellence: 2
The 2021 season was unquestionably the best in AIC's history for men's soccer. A robust offense, stout defense, and brilliant goalkeeping combined to push the program to record-breaking heights. The team finished second in the NE10 and broke the program's wins record, reaching the NE10 Championship Game for the first time in program history and earning a national ranking as high as 14th in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, the first time the team had ever been ranked. Additionally, the program earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, and followed by winning its first NCAA Tournament game. The season ended with a 15-5-1 mark, shattering the previous wins record. Rookie goalkeeper Lucas Morales-Fernandez set individual wins and shutouts records with 14 and eight, respectively.
In 2018, the Yellow Jackets capped an incredible second-half surge under Perry, scoring in the final two seconds of regulation to secure a 4-4 draw against No. 9 Adelphi and advance to the NE10 Tournament. There, they defeated the top seed, No. 15 Le Moyne, for the program’s first-ever postseason win. A year later, they were back at it again, this time stunning No. 6 Adelphi 3-2 in double overtime, to advance to the NE10 Semifinal for the second consecutive season -- the only team in the NE10 to advance in both seasons.
In 2016, Perry guided the Yellow Jackets to one of their most successful seasons in program history. AIC earned its sixth postseason appearance in team history with a 6-6-1 conference record, the second-best league mark of all time for the Yellow Jackets.
Perry spent two seasons under former AIC head coach Fred Balbino as an assistant coach. With Perry patrolling the sidelines, the Yellow Jackets amassed a record of 15-17-3 and earned a trip to the Northeast-10 postseason in 2014.
Since Perry joined the coaching staff in 2013, more than 250 men's soccer athletes have been named to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
After finishing his Youth Team Scholarship at a professional soccer club in England, Perry joined Lees McRae College in 2009, making a significant impact during their 2009 National Runner-Up season. During his two years in North Carolina, Perry was a regular starter, tallying seven goals and 21 assists.
While at Lees McRae, he was a Conference Carolina All-Conference first team selection in 2010, third team selection in 2009 and Freshman of the Year. After transferring to neighboring Northeast-10 program, Southern Connecticut State University, Perry was a captain and regular starter before graduating in 2013.
| | Overall Record | Conference Record | Postseason Performance |
| Year | W | L | T | Pct. | W | L | T | Pct. | Conference Finish | Conference Tournament | NCAA Tournament | Nat'l Rank
(USC) |
| 2015 | 4 | 8 | 5 | .382 | 2 | 6 | 5 | .346 | 11th of 14 | -- | -- | NR |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 | 1 | .472 | 6 | 6 | 1 | .500 | T6th of 14 | NE10 Quarterfinals | -- | NR |
| 2017 | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 5 | 7 | 1 | .423 | 9th of 14 | -- | -- | NR |
| 2018 | 7 | 9 | 2 | .444 | 5 | 6 | 2 | .462 | 8th of 14 | NE10
Semifinals | -- | NR |
| 2019 | 8 | 7 | 3 | .528 | 5 | 5 | 2 | .500 | 8th of 13 | NE10 Semifinals | -- | NR |
| 2020* | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | -- | -- | -- | -- | N/A | Not Held | Not Held | N/A |
| 2021 | 15 | 5 | 1 | .738 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 2nd of 13 | NE10 Finals | 2nd Round | RV |
| TOTAL | 48 | 47 | 13 | .505 | 32 | 33 | 11 | .493 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
*No countable games (COVID-19 Pandemic); record listed is results of non-countable games and does not count toward career record
