Duke grew up playing club soccer in Omaha, NE, helping the Olympia Hawks win two State Cup titles (1982, 1984), while also being chosen twice to the Nebraska Select team.  He went on to lead Omaha Creighton Prep HS to back-to-back State championships, earning 1st Team All-State honors as a senior. After continuing his soccer career at Rockhurst University, he later helped start up Liberty United FC (LUFC) in the KC Northland.   Duke then founded Freebird Soccer (2011-2015), which he would later merge with FCKC to give his players opportunities they might not have had with their small, independent club.