INDIANAPOLIS – IUP football running backs coach Luke Barker has been selected as an assistant coach for the 2018 U.S. Under-16 National Team in International Bowl IX next year.
 
The U.S. team will square off against Mexico's Under-16 Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon Team on Friday, Jan. 19 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys and college football's Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CST.
 
"I'm very excited to be a part of the U-16 USA Football Coaching Staff," said Barker. "I have been working with USA Football for four years, and this will be my first opportunity to coach in the International Bowl. I'm looking forward to working with a great group of coaches and athletes, and representing our country against Team Mexico on Jan. 19 in Arlington, Texas."
 
RELATED | USA Football announces U.S. Under-16 National Team

International Bowl IX features 24 high school and middle school-aged teams across eight nations on three continents. U.S. National Teams will compete against squads representing Canada, Japan, Mexico and the Nordic region, comprised of players and coaches from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
 
Barker will serve as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach of the U-16 squad. He just finished his third season as the running backs and tight ends coach at IUP, helping the Crimson Hawks to a combined 32-6 (.842) record with three NCAA playoff appearances since 2015. IUP running backs and tight ends have a combined seven All-PSAC West honors during Barker's tenure.
 
In successive years, running backs Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (2016) and Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (2017) have broken the IUP single season record for rushing yards by a freshman. The Crimson Hawks broke single season records for rushing yards per game (293.6, 2015) and rushing touchdowns (48, 2016) with Barker on staff.
 
The U.S. U-16 head coach is Bill Volk of Aloha (Beaverton, Ore.) High School. Joining Barker on Volk's staff are Jordan McGowan (UC Davis), wide receivers coach Tim Souza (Meridian Rocky Mountain, Idaho), offensive line coach A.J. Dalton (Carrollton, Ohio), defensive line coach John Trisciani (St. Anselm College), and linebackers coach Jeff Schmidt (Univ. of Puget Sound).
 
High profile names have played for U.S. National Team
U.S. National Team alumni include wide receivers Corey Coleman (Cleveland Browns) and Devin Funchess (Carolina Panthers), running backs Todd Gurley (Los Angeles Rams) and Samaje Perine (Washington Redskins), defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals), offensive lineman Jack Mewhort (Indianapolis Colts), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (Pittsburgh Steelers) and quarterback Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
 
More on USA Football and International Bowl IX
For more information on USA Football, Barker's U-16 team, and International Bowl IX, visit USAFootball.com and follow USA Football on Twitter @USNFT.
 
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For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.