UWSP Interior Architecture graduate leaves impact on football program

A recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point combined his passion for athletics with his degree in interior architecture to leave a lasting mark on the football program.

Jack Luedtke, Plymouth, was drawn to engineering and design as a high school student. As an athlete who took classes in his high school's technical education program, he knew he wanted to continue his football career and study architecture in college.

"I was looking at a couple different schools but ultimately ended up going to UWSP because they had an interior architecture program, and I was able to continue my athletic career. Being able to do both was important to me," Luedtke said.

He recalled his experience during the recruitment process while touring the football facilities with his dad, a Pointers football alum.

"My dad played here and when he walked through the locker room on my visit, he joked that it hadn't changed since he was a student," Luedtke said. "I decided to meet with Coach (Luke) Venne and express interest in helping update the locker room. I thought it could be an opportunity to incorporate my major and give back to the team."

Once given the necessary approvals, the process started with mapping floor plans that would allow each member of the team to have a locker. This meant taking out walls and having enough lockers to accommodate anywhere from 120-150 players. Luedtke designed the lockers using a program called Revit, equipped with lifting benches, equipment hangers and a lockbox. One detail he was excited to include was an inscribed name plate that would benefit the football program.

Navigating budget limitations, realistic labor timelines and contracting with external partners were some of the real-world challenges Luedtke had to face. However, thanks to the help of an alum and his teammates, the construction moved forward at a faster pace than originally anticipated.

"For the demo, we worked with a construction company run by the dad of one of our players, who is a UWSP football alum," Luedtke said. "He brought tools to help tear down the lockers and some walls, and we had rotations of teammates and coaches doing this. This not only helped us reduce cost, but when it came down to tearing out flooring for example, we were able to get most of it done in one day."

Phase one of the redesign has been completed and used by his teammates for its first season. This included the addition of new flooring, lighting and a darker ceiling, among other updates. Beyond seeing his lockers come to life, some design aspects that Luedtke is proud of include a protein fueling station and decorated wall where players can take pictures for social media, all assets that mirror Division I facilities.

Although he served a critical role in the locker room design process, Luedtke made an impact on the UWSP football team as a leader on and off the field. After the challenge of missing his first season due to injury, he eventually became a first- and second-string defensive back and was voted into the team's leadership committee. With the help of his team, they established the motto "Whatever It Takes," a project he was especially proud to take part in.

"Our leadership team wanted to come up with something that we could incorporate into speeches and share with other athletes. There are a lot of things athletes do that take discipline, getting to your 6 a.m. lifts, balancing academic, athletic and personal commitments. This is a reminder that sometimes you need to push yourself to be the best you can be, and it became something that we strive for as a program," Luedtke said.

As the football team looks ahead to completing the finishing touches of the redesign, UWSP football head coach Luke Venne says he was grateful to have a student so passionate about investing in their program.

"Jack took the lead on this project quickly, and without his creativity I am not sure we could have maximized the space in the way we did. He is a great communicator, but also a great observer who understands when to talk and when to listen. He is extremely hard working, and his understanding of how to work with others will make him successful in his future," Venne said.

Luedtke graduated in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture, with minors in art and business administration. As a student, he interned at Excel in Fond Du Lac, a firm that specializes in architecture and engineering for clients across North America. He will continue full-time with the firm, a position he was offered before graduating.

He is grateful that his work will have a lasting impact on UWSP, a place that is close to him and his family, as his younger brother is currently a student.

"Just to have a little bit of my name on the process of this locker room is a huge honor. This is something that I can share with my family and future generations of players. To be able to say that I helped this program, this team, while playing for them is just phenomenal." The locker room was revealed to the players in August 2025. For video of the reveal, visit the UW-Stevens Point Football Facebook page.