University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
McKissic-Luke, Nic
Nic McKissic-Luke
- Title:
- Running Backs
Nic McKissic-Luke was named running backs coach at the University of Minnesota in January 2023.
In 2023, McKissic-Luke mentored Honorable Mention All-Big Ten standout Darius Taylor. The freshman played in only six games, but he rushed 138 times for 799 yards (fifth most ever by a freshman in school history) and five touchdowns. Taylor, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times, averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game (third most ever in school history) and set a true freshman rushing record with 208 yards against Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl. He led the led team with 891 all-purpose yards (799 rushing and 92 receiving) and averaged 148.50 all-purpose yards per game. Taylor had three games with 200+ all-purpose yards (219 vs. Bowling Green, 216 at Northwestern and 2016 vs. Eastern Michigan) and ended his season being named MVP of the Quick Lane Bowl.
Taylor missed some time during the season with an injury and Jordan Nubin, who started his Minnesota career as a defensive back, filled in admirably for him. Under McKissic-Luke's mentorship, Nubin carried the ball 127 times for 578 yards and three touchdowns. He also helped left Minnesota to a win against Michigan State when he rushed 40 times (tied for seventh most in program history) for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Prior to Minnesota, McKissic-Luke spent three seasons at Northern Illinois, first as running backs / fullbacks coach in 2020, adding run game coordinator and co-special teams coordinator titles in 2021 and then being run game coordinator, running backs coach and the sole special teams coordinator in 2022.
In 2022, the Huskies had the No. 2 rushing offense in the MAC at 190.4 yards per game, while Antario Brown (6.26) and Harrison Waylee (5.45) ranked first and second, respectively, in the conference in yards per rush.
Working with a young group of tailbacks in his first season, McKissic-Luke molded Waylee, then a freshman, into the team's leading rusher. In 2021 the Huskies had the fourth-best rushing offense in the nation. Led by MAC Freshman of the Year Jay Ducker who gained 1,148 yards, NIU averaged 241.4 rushing yards per game. McKissic-Luke also coached Clint Ratkovich, who was named Third Team All-MAC and led Northern Illinois with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Special teams also excelled under McKissic-Luke as Trayvon Rudolph earned All-MAC honors as a kick returner, while punter Matt Ference left NIU with every school record and kicker John Richardson made three game-winning kicks.
McKissick-Luke spent his first three seasons at Youngstown State as running backs coach before adding special teams coordinator to his duties in 2019. He tutored five players to seven All-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades at two different schools.
In 2016, YSU tailbacks Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb earned All-MVFC first team and honorable mention accolades, respectively, and played a key role in Youngstown State's run to the National Championship Game. The duo each rushed for 1,000 yards with Webb leading the way amassing 1,342 yards, while Ruiz tallied 1,153. Additionally, Webb set the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and was named a third team AP All-American.
Tailback Tevin McMaster earned first team All-MVFC honors in 2017 and 2018. Under McKissic-Luke's guidance, McMaster rushed for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns and finished his career with 2,970 yards rushing at 36 TDs.
Punt returner Jake Coates garnered second team all-conference honors after setting school records for punt return yards in a game and a season in 2019. Senior tailback Joe Alessi had his best rushing season of his career, gaining 803 yards on 136 carries and five touchdowns.
McKissic-Luke also spent three successful seasons at South Dakota State helping the Jackrabbits to the FCS Playoffs each year. During his first two seasons in Brookings, McKissic-Luke worked with Zach Zenner, a consensus All-American and two-time first team All-MVFC selection who later played five seasons in the NFL.
McKissic-Luke began his career at Benedict College, where he spent five seasons coaching running backs and slot receivers. The Tigers led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in rushing in 2009 and 2010, while the 2009 squad ranked seventh in Division II averaging 250 yards per game.
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, McKissic-Luke spent two summers (2011, 2012) with the Arizona Cardinals through the Bill Walsh-Minority Coaching Internship.
A graduate of Alabama A&M, McKissic-Luke finished second in career rushing yards with more than 2,000 yards in three seasons (2004-06) for the Bulldogs. During his senior year, he helped Alabama A&M to the 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference crown.
McKissic-Luke is engaged to Emily Wollet and has a son Nicolas and daughters Georgia and Rylynn.
McKISSIC-LUKE AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2020-22: Northern Illinois – Running Backs / Run Game Coordinator / Special Teams Coordinator
2019: Youngstown State – Running Backs / Special Teams
2016-18: Youngstown State – Running Backs
2013-15: South Dakota State – Running Backs / Co-Special Teams Coordinator)
2008-12: Benedict College - Running Backs / Slot Receivers / Strength and Conditioning
Bowls Coached
2023 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2021 Cure Bowl (Northern Illinois)
Playing Experience: Alabama A&M (running back), 2004-06; Alabama (running back) 2002-03
Birthday: December 12, 1983
Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama
High School: Central High School (Alabama), 2002
Alma Mater: Alabama A&M, 2007
Fiancée: Emily
Son: Nicolas
Daughters: Georgia, Rylynn
In 2023, McKissic-Luke mentored Honorable Mention All-Big Ten standout Darius Taylor. The freshman played in only six games, but he rushed 138 times for 799 yards (fifth most ever by a freshman in school history) and five touchdowns. Taylor, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times, averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game (third most ever in school history) and set a true freshman rushing record with 208 yards against Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl. He led the led team with 891 all-purpose yards (799 rushing and 92 receiving) and averaged 148.50 all-purpose yards per game. Taylor had three games with 200+ all-purpose yards (219 vs. Bowling Green, 216 at Northwestern and 2016 vs. Eastern Michigan) and ended his season being named MVP of the Quick Lane Bowl.
Taylor missed some time during the season with an injury and Jordan Nubin, who started his Minnesota career as a defensive back, filled in admirably for him. Under McKissic-Luke's mentorship, Nubin carried the ball 127 times for 578 yards and three touchdowns. He also helped left Minnesota to a win against Michigan State when he rushed 40 times (tied for seventh most in program history) for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Prior to Minnesota, McKissic-Luke spent three seasons at Northern Illinois, first as running backs / fullbacks coach in 2020, adding run game coordinator and co-special teams coordinator titles in 2021 and then being run game coordinator, running backs coach and the sole special teams coordinator in 2022.
In 2022, the Huskies had the No. 2 rushing offense in the MAC at 190.4 yards per game, while Antario Brown (6.26) and Harrison Waylee (5.45) ranked first and second, respectively, in the conference in yards per rush.
Working with a young group of tailbacks in his first season, McKissic-Luke molded Waylee, then a freshman, into the team's leading rusher. In 2021 the Huskies had the fourth-best rushing offense in the nation. Led by MAC Freshman of the Year Jay Ducker who gained 1,148 yards, NIU averaged 241.4 rushing yards per game. McKissic-Luke also coached Clint Ratkovich, who was named Third Team All-MAC and led Northern Illinois with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Special teams also excelled under McKissic-Luke as Trayvon Rudolph earned All-MAC honors as a kick returner, while punter Matt Ference left NIU with every school record and kicker John Richardson made three game-winning kicks.
McKissick-Luke spent his first three seasons at Youngstown State as running backs coach before adding special teams coordinator to his duties in 2019. He tutored five players to seven All-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades at two different schools.
In 2016, YSU tailbacks Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb earned All-MVFC first team and honorable mention accolades, respectively, and played a key role in Youngstown State's run to the National Championship Game. The duo each rushed for 1,000 yards with Webb leading the way amassing 1,342 yards, while Ruiz tallied 1,153. Additionally, Webb set the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and was named a third team AP All-American.
Tailback Tevin McMaster earned first team All-MVFC honors in 2017 and 2018. Under McKissic-Luke's guidance, McMaster rushed for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns and finished his career with 2,970 yards rushing at 36 TDs.
Punt returner Jake Coates garnered second team all-conference honors after setting school records for punt return yards in a game and a season in 2019. Senior tailback Joe Alessi had his best rushing season of his career, gaining 803 yards on 136 carries and five touchdowns.
McKissic-Luke also spent three successful seasons at South Dakota State helping the Jackrabbits to the FCS Playoffs each year. During his first two seasons in Brookings, McKissic-Luke worked with Zach Zenner, a consensus All-American and two-time first team All-MVFC selection who later played five seasons in the NFL.
McKissic-Luke began his career at Benedict College, where he spent five seasons coaching running backs and slot receivers. The Tigers led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in rushing in 2009 and 2010, while the 2009 squad ranked seventh in Division II averaging 250 yards per game.
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, McKissic-Luke spent two summers (2011, 2012) with the Arizona Cardinals through the Bill Walsh-Minority Coaching Internship.
A graduate of Alabama A&M, McKissic-Luke finished second in career rushing yards with more than 2,000 yards in three seasons (2004-06) for the Bulldogs. During his senior year, he helped Alabama A&M to the 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference crown.
McKissic-Luke is engaged to Emily Wollet and has a son Nicolas and daughters Georgia and Rylynn.
McKISSIC-LUKE AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2020-22: Northern Illinois – Running Backs / Run Game Coordinator / Special Teams Coordinator
2019: Youngstown State – Running Backs / Special Teams
2016-18: Youngstown State – Running Backs
2013-15: South Dakota State – Running Backs / Co-Special Teams Coordinator)
2008-12: Benedict College - Running Backs / Slot Receivers / Strength and Conditioning
Bowls Coached
2023 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2021 Cure Bowl (Northern Illinois)
Playing Experience: Alabama A&M (running back), 2004-06; Alabama (running back) 2002-03
Birthday: December 12, 1983
Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama
High School: Central High School (Alabama), 2002
Alma Mater: Alabama A&M, 2007
Fiancée: Emily
Son: Nicolas
Daughters: Georgia, Rylynn
Game Trailer: Gophers-Bears
Friday, September 12
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win 66-0
Monday, September 08
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
