Chris Luongo - Men's Ice Hockey Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

Chris Luongo

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
hockey@msu.edu
Phone:
355-1639

Chris Luongo, a former Spartan hockey captain, joined the Michigan State staff in May 2017 after having spent two seasons serving alongside Danton Cole as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Luongo has helped the Spartans make progress in all facets over his four seasons. The former Spartan defenseman has mentored a young defense corps that has included just one senior in three of his four years. In each of the last three seasons, Spartan defensemen have garnered all-conference recognition, as most recently Dennis Cesana earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2020-21. In 2019-20, defensive partners Jerad Rosburg, who is now with the Dallas Stars organization, and Cesana were voted to the All-Big Ten second team.

While with the NTDP, Luongo worked primarily with the team’s defensemen and contributed tactically in all areas, including special teams.

Prior to joining USA Hockey, Luongo spent four seasons at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Luongo served as an assistant under Cole from 2008-10, and then took over as head coach for two seasons, from 2010-12, when Cole departed for USA Hockey.

Luongo, a native of Fraser, got his first job in college hockey at Wayne State University, where he was an assistant coach under Bill Wilkinson for two seasons, from 2006-08.

Luongo’s first job in coaching was with the Motor City Mechanics of the UHL (2005-06).

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Luongo enjoyed a 15-year professional career that included appearing in a combined 218 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. Along with spending time in the AHL and IHL, Luongo played his final seven seasons in Germany.

Luongo’s career at Michigan State was highlighted by an NCAA title his freshman season (1986) and then two more Frozen Four appearances (1987, 1989). The Spartans also captured two CCHA regular-season titles (1986, 1989) and two CCHA Tournament championships (1987, 1989) as part of winning over 130 games during Luongo’s four years in East Lansing.

During his MSU career, Luongo compiled 69 points in 157 games for the Spartans and served as an alternate captain during his junior season before being elected captain as a senior. He was a second-team All-CCHA selection as a senior and was voted the winner of MSU’s Outstanding Defensive Player award in each of his final two seasons.

Luongo was a part of three U.S. Men’s National Teams at the IIHF World Championship (1996, 1998, 2000), helping the USA earn the bronze medal in 1996. He also received USA Hockey’s Bob Johnson Award, recognizing excellence in international hockey competition during the 1996 season.

Luongo earned his bachelor’s degree in general business from MSU in 1990. His son Anthony, a 2021 graduate of James Madison College at MSU, is a PhD student at Emory University in Atlanta. His youngest son, Christopher, is a senior in high school.