Annapolis Area Christian School senior Luke Eberle cherishes the life lessons he’s learned from his favorite soccer coaches since he started playing the sport in elementary school. Eberle wants to have the same influence on younger players. So he’s already making plans to become a college coach after he graduates from Virginia’s Liberty University, where he will play soccer on a scholarship.
Eberle, an Arnold resident, says he hopes to start off coaching as grad assistant.
“I remember how all the coaches in my life had a huge impact on me,” Eberle says. “It would be only natural to do the same thing for other kids when I get older.”
Eberle has been studying coaching since high school, and he is doing it in many different ways.
He also believes refereeing for five years in the Severna Park Green Hornets fall league has improved his soccer knowledge and prepared him to coach.
“I am actually doing my entire senior project on coaching,” he says. “I have a podcast consisting of interviews with coaches from all kinds of different sports. It’s another project I am doing as well. It’s something I have always been interested in. I have read books about it.”
AACS Boys Soccer Coach Vaughn Riding says Eberle has all the qualities to be a successful soccer coach. “He would be a wonderful coach,” Riding explains. “The coaches that are most impactful are the ones that make it into your life and have a voice in your life outside of that sport. I know without a doubt Luke would put that first.”
Before Eberle gets into coaching, he’ll focus on playing at Liberty. He also strongly considered Army, Navy, and Villanova. “I think Coach Kelly (Findley) is someone I can really believe in, and I looked at other schools,” says Eberle, who carried a 4.14 grade-point average. “Other facilities didn’t come close to Liberty’s.”
Findley is counting on Eberle playing a lot early on for the Flames. “I think he could have a very good career,” Findley says. “He is very versatile and can play in a lot of different spots. To me, that’s the best thing about him. He’s also a strong, athletic guy with great size and speed.”
The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound Eberle, a four-year starter, used all those qualities to dominate opponents while playing at AACS. He earned Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference honors for four straight years. He peaked as a senior and totaled 17 goals and 12 assists. He had some eye-catching games. Eberle scored two goals and dished out two assists in a 4-3 win over Glenelg and assisted on three goals in the last 10 minutes to help AACS rally past Woodbury Forest of Virginia, 3-2.
“He is one of the best players in the state,” Riding says. “He is at that kind of level. One of the things that set him apart is his fitness. It’s incredible. We have some hard workers, but he’s at the top. He’s done all the right things to develop himself as a player to be at that elite level.”
One of the biggest keys in Eberle’s development has been playing club soccer. He’s been competing on elite-level teams like Baltimore Celtic and Pipeline 12 year-round. “High school soccer doesn’t push you in ways club does,” Eberle says. “Club is where you are playing the best of the best. Day in and day out you’re competing for your spot. You are under pressure from coaches and other players. It’s very high-intensity.”
