Experienced but modest, Lujan heads to CMU

As a seven-year professional soccer player and three-year assistant coach at Princeton, he has meant a great deal to the Princeton program and certainly has the credentials and potential to succeed as a head coach.

Lujan brings to Carnegie Mellon his experience both on the field and on the sideline, his vast understanding of the game and his ability to recruit the true student-athlete.

“I have the ability to give knowledge in certain situations, what works and what doesn’t work, because I have been there,” Lujan said.

But Lujan is able to teach his players lessons both on and off the field, which is at the heart of collegiate athletics.

“He taught me that a coach could be a really good friend at the same time,” sophomore forward Devin Muntz of the Princeton men’s soccer team said. “We could spend time with him off the field and joke around. He made the team more of a family, a close-knit group. He almost felt like he was letting us down by accepting the Carnegie Mellon job.”

Perhaps his players will miss Lujan’s jocular attitude. Though Muntz declined to mention specific instances, he described Lujan as “a big prankster” who “always kept us laughing.”

Lujan’s methods demonstrate that he understands there is more to being a coach than simply teaching the players the skills they need on the pitch. Coaches have as much to learn from other coaches and players as they have to teach.

After working with Lujan for the past three seasons, head coach Jim Barlow ’91 is convinced that Lujan is ready and well prepared for his new head coaching position.

“There were times at training where he could say something funny to get guys loose, but he knew when to be hard on them to get them to push themselves,” Barlow said. “He put guys in a situation where they were challenged and forced to take the next step.”

Lujan is no slouch on the field, either. A 1994 graduate of Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in drama, he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 200 points. His seven-year professional career saw back-to-back amateur national championships with the Denver Kickers in 1994 and 1995.

“After playing professionally for seven seasons, I don’t think I could live without the sport as part of my life,” Lujan said. “I could not live without competing.”

Lujan went on to receive a Master of Science degree in recreation, parks and sport leadership in 2007 from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to coaching at Princeton, Lujan served as assistant coach at Division III Virginia Wesleyan for two years. Having both played and coached in Division III, he should have no trouble adjusting to Carnegie Mellon’s program.

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Susan Bassett, Carnegie Mellon’s athletic director, is delighted that Lujan accepted the offer and confident in his coaching ability.

“Arron emerged from one of the most competitive processes I have administered since I have been athletic director,” she said. “We had over 90 applications, with four finalists who came to visit campus. We were impressed with his extensive playing career, his personal character and the rapport he developed with staff and students here. He also understands that Carnegie Mellon is a unique academic institution.”

The extensive search came after 27-year veteran Nick Gaudioso announced his retirement on Feb. 11. The Tartans went 9-6-2 last season but failed to win a single conference matchup. The program is historically strong, however, and Lujan is excited for the challenge.

Lujan’s presence will be sorely missed both on and off the field.

“What I will miss most are the relationships that I fostered with the players, the coaching staff and the people in the Princeton community,” Lujan said.