Primary Recruiting Areas: Connecticut

Luke Bakanowsky '15 is entering his fifth season as part of the Merrimack College football coaching staff in 2022. After overseeing the wide receivers in his first two seasons, Bakanowsky assumed the role of quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2020-21. 

The 2021 season was highlighted by a road victory against Holy Cross, a nationally ranked opponent. In that game the Merrimack offense totaled 446 yards, 26 first downs and was 12-18 on third down conversions. Bakanowsky’s first season as passing game coordinator, QB Westin Elliott broke the NEC conference single season record for passing TD’s (30). That number also placed him seventh in the nation in passing TD’s. At 67.8%, Elliott finished third in the nation in completion percentage. Elliott was a five-time NEC prime performer, the FCS national player of the week in week 4, and now has the single game record for completion percentage in Merrimack College history. Merrimack’s offense scored 27.8 PPG, averaged 338 YPG and saw 15 players record a reception.

Headlined by the career season by redshirt senior Marquis Spence, Bakanowsky directed a talented group of receivers that were pivotal in the team's offense that ranked second in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in scoring offense. Spence was an All-New England selection at wideout after finishing the year as one of four NEC players to average over 100 all-purpose yards per game on the year. He also earned NEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week following a career-high 16-catch game at Lehigh. Bakanowsky's unit was a key contributor to Merrimack's 206.0 pass yards/game average, the third highest in the NEC.

Bakanowsky once again oversaw Merrimack's talented wide receiving corps in 2018, which were among the league's most dangerous units. Three different wide receivers earned all-conference recognition, as well as one being named a Don Hansen Gazette All-Super Region Third Team selection. Merrimack also finished the year with the conference's fourth-best offense in terms of yards/game and second-best passing offense.

Prior to his return to Merrimack, Bakanowsky served as the Nichols offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, helping the offense break numerous records over that span. In 2016, the Bison averaged 25.7 points per game, the fifth highest total in program history while ranking second in the CCC with 437.9 yards per game. His offense also set six school records, including total yards and passing yards in a season. Bakanowsky was crucial in improving the program’s win total by five wins, from 1-9 to 6-4, which marked the team’s highest win total since 2003.   

The 2015 Merrimack College alumnus was a four-year member of the football program and appeared in 13 games over the course of his career. He threw for three touchdowns and rushed for one other as a senior iin 2014. 

Bakanowsky was named the outstanding male athlete all four years at Oakmont Regional High School. The Ashburnham, Massachusetts, native led his team to a Super Bowl championship as a junior with a 12-1 record and was also named MVP of the game. He set a school record for passing touchdowns in a season (22) as a junior and then again as a senior (31). He was a Worcester Telegram and Gazette super team member as a senior when he passed and rushed for over 1000 yards each. 

Bakanowsky graduated from Merrimack with a degree in business in 2015.