February 26, 2008
(release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information director)

DECORAH, IOWA . . . Luther College Director of Athletics Joe Thompson has announced that Chris Garcia-Prats has accepted the position as head coach of men’s soccer.

Garcia-Prats succeeds Doug Mello, who served 18 years as both the men’s and women’s head soccer coach in the Luther athletic department. Mello resigned in January after accepting the head men’s soccer coaching position at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.

Garcia-Prats joins the Luther athletic department after a successful playing and coaching career at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.

For the past six years, he has been the assistant men’s soccer coach and recruiting coordinator for one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country. During this stretch, Trinity University made six NCAA Tournament appearances and three semifinal appearances, winning the national championship in 2003, and finishing second in 2007.

Since 2004, Garcia-Prats has also been a head Coach for the Classics Elite Soccer Academy in San Antonio and an Olympic Development Program state coach for the South Texas region.

In 2004, he served as boys head coach at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, where he led a team that posted one win in 2003 to a 20-3-4 record and a 6A state runner-up finish. He was selected by the San Antonio Express News as the High School Soccer Coach of the Year for this turnaround season.

While wearing a Trinity uniform, Garcia-Prats started 86 of 87 games of his soccer career and served as team captain as a junior and senior. All four years he was awarded Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference all-conference honors and was an NSCAA All-Region selection in 2000. He played on two SCAC championship teams, two NCAA National Tournament teams that advanced to the quarterfinals, and three that reached the regional finals. During this four-year stretch, Trinity University posted a record of 74-10-2.

"I would like to thank President Torgerson and Dr. Thompson for providing me with this opportunity to be at a prestigious college and an athletic department with a winning tradition,” stated Gracia-Prats. “I look forward to working with this group of committed student-athletes to elevate the Luther College men's soccer program to national prominence."

Garcia-Prats graduated from Trinity University with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education in 2002. The following year, he earned his master’s in the art of teaching in elementary education from Trinity University.

Chris and his wife Stephanie were married in June of 2007.

"We are excited to have Chris join the Athletic Department at Luther College,” commented Thompson. “He brings a wealth of experience and success to the men's soccer program. For the past six years, he has been involved with one of the most successful soccer programs in the country, and we look forward to his leadership."

Luther College is a four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and is located in Decorah, Iowa. The Norse compete in 10 men's and nine women's intercollegiate sports.

As a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) since 1922, the men have won 142 conference championships. In 1982, the IIAC expanded its championship sponsorship to included women’s sports. During this time frame, the women have won 56 championships. Combined, the Norse have won an unmatched 198 IIAC titles.

More information on Luther athletics can be found on the World Wide Web at http://sports.luther.edu.

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