Our Coaches

Jeff Lucco
Varsity Head Coach

Coach Lucco has been working at Taft as a teacher and coach since 2012. He is a graduate of North Park University ('12), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a teaching certificate. He was also a member of the North Park Men's Soccer team and the National History Honor's Society. He has been around the game as a player, referee, and coach for over 22 years. His experience on the field includes Michigan Youth State Championships with prestigious clubs Michigan Wolves and Vardar III. He was a member of the Oregon Olympic Development program and a standout at Plymouth High School (Michigan) in both soccer and football. In 2019 he was recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as a member of the '30 Under 30' coaching class. He holds a USSF 'C License' and a United Soccer Coaches 'Advanced National Diploma'.  He currently teaches World Studies and in the Taft Academic Center. 
Coaching Experience: 
  • Taft High School 
  • Von Steuben High School
  • FC United 
  • Chicago Northwind Soccer Club
  • ​Taft Academic Center
Awards & Certificates
  • USSF C License
  • United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 (2018-2019)
  • United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma
  • United Soccer Coaches Level 2 GK Diploma
Favorite Team: Arsenal

Jeff Mikula

Varsity Assistant Coach

Maciej Myszka
Junior Varsity Head Coach

Coach Myszka is the longest serving member of the coaching staff (13 years) and counselor at Taft High School. He has led the junior varsity team to eight straight 10-win seasons, several conference championships, and the JV Public League Championship in 2015. His leadership and mentorship was recognized in 2016 with the Chicago Public League Assistant Coach of the Year award, an honor much deserved and long overdue. He is a graduate of Elmwood Park High School, where he was a standout on the soccer team, and continues to play for various men's soccer teams in the Metro-Chicago area. HIs dedication to the program is unmatched and his guidance has provided our boys the academic support they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom. He currently holds his USSF 'E' License. 
Coaching Experience: 
  • Taft High School
  • Oriole Park Youth Soccer
Favorite Team: Los Angeles Galaxy

Patrick Kowalkowski

Freshman Head Coach
Coach Kowalkowski began playing club soccer at Chicago Fire Juniors South where he played for 15 years in various leagues/divisions across Illinois. After starting 4 years on varsity at Providence Catholic High School, I played one year of DII soccer at Lewis University. After playing a year at Lewis, he transferred to DePaul University where he played 3 years of club soccer, club captain for 2 years and president for a year. He is now a Diverse Learners teacher at Taft.  

Coaching Experience: 
  • Taft High School
Favorite Team: 
Coach Mikula has been working at Taft since 2018 as a math teacher, soccer coach, and now as an MYP coordinator for both the Freshman Academy and the Varsity campuses.   Growing up on the southwest side of Chicago, he graduated and played at St. Laurence High School and then proceeded to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (Mathematics).  He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Mathematics Education from DePaul University.  He began his teaching career at Curie Metropolitan High School where he taught IB and MYP mathematics for 9 years.  During his entire tenure at Curie, he was involved and eventually became the head varsity coach for both the men's and women's soccer programs.  Some of his accomplishments include various tournament and conference championships at the JV level, which prompted an awarding of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2014 from the Chicago Public League.  Both of his programs at Curie have also won the Chicago Public League's Sportsmanship Award in 2015 and in 2016 with a special distinction for the women's program which raised over $4000 for the American Cancer Society.  Since his arrival at Taft, he has continued to coach within both programs at various levels.  He and his family are also now part of the Taft community as neighbors.  Coach Mikula is a proud husband, father, and an avid Star Wars fan.  MTFBWY.
Coaching Experience:
  • Taft High School
  • Curie Metropolitan High School
Favorite Team: Manchester United