Learnard Returns as Staffer Specializing in Pitching Analytics, Operations
7/8/2021 9:50:00 AM | Baseball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two-time All-American and the Boilermakers' single-season saves record holder Ross Learnard is returning to the program as Purdue baseball's newest staff member specializing in pitching analytics and team operations, head coach Greg Goff has announced.
Learnard pitched in 56 games in two seasons from 2017 to 2018, earning eight victories and 19 saves while compiling a 1.78 ERA, ranking second in program history in saves and ERA. More importantly, the Boilermakers were 67-48 in his two seasons, their best two-year stretch since the move to Alexander Field in the fall of 2012. As a senior, Learnard helped lead Purdue to a runner-up showing in the Big Ten standings and an NCAA Regional bid, both of which came to fruition thanks in a part to a memorable 21-2 hot stretch from mid-April through Memorial Day Weekend. The lefty racked up 12 saves during that stretch.
Learnard will work alongside pitching coach Chris Marx and director of player development John Madia in preparing Purdue's players for success in the student-athlete experience.
"Everyone at Alexander is thrilled to have Ross return to our program," Goff said. "He's very bright and has always set a high standard with his preparation and work ethic. I'm confident he can work together with Chris and John to help all our players. Ross is just a few years removed from proving that pitching is an art form and you can find success in multiple ways if the proper analysis, mentality and prep work is in place.
"In addition, Ross will lead the day-to-day operations for baseball – including our logistics like travel, meals and budgets. He'll provide supervision of our student managers, manage game contracts, and ensure student-athletes are aware and engaged on all services available to them."
"I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity to come back to Purdue and work with Coach Goff and his staff," Learnard said. "I'm passionate about this program and look forward to giving everything I have to help prepare these student-athletes for success in every aspect of their experience at Purdue. I'm very eager to get to work and it's exciting to be back home at Alexander."
Since graduating from Purdue in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in agribusiness, Learnard has coached at Illinois State and Parkland College. Working under former Purdue assistants Steve Holm and Wally Crancer, Learnard was ISU's director of operations as a graduate assistant during the 2018-19 school year. The Redbirds won the Missouri Valley Conference that season. The following year he was ISU's volunteer assistant coach and director of camps.
Learnard helped Parkland qualify for the NJCAA DII World Series in 2016 before transferring to Purdue. He returned to Champaign as an assistant coach with Parkland for the 2021 season and helped guide the Cobras to 36 wins, a 23-9 record in conference play and the No. 2 seed in the Region 24 Tournament.
Learnard replaces Purdue alumnus Tim Sarhage, the former team manager who was promoted to the fulltime operations role after graduating in December 2019. Sarhage moved on in June to begin his career as a firefighter and EMT in Lafayette.
Learnard was Purdue's pitcher of the year honoree in 2017 after a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 35 2/3 helped him post an ERA of 0.58, eclipsing a team benchmark that had stood since 1965. He was named a second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The following year when his team-record 15 saves earned him All-America accolades from Collegiate Baseball, the lefty became the first player in program history to be a full-fledged All-American in multiple seasons. He worked 24 consecutive scoreless innings as a senior and closed out all three games of series sweeps of Maryland and Michigan.
Learnard was also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, All-Big Ten performer, Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week. He was Parkland's Male Athlete of the Year in 2016 and later selected to the Cobras' All-Decade Team. In May 2020, Learnard also earned a spot on Purdue's Build A Ballclub Best of the 2000s team.
Learnard pitched in 56 games in two seasons from 2017 to 2018, earning eight victories and 19 saves while compiling a 1.78 ERA, ranking second in program history in saves and ERA. More importantly, the Boilermakers were 67-48 in his two seasons, their best two-year stretch since the move to Alexander Field in the fall of 2012. As a senior, Learnard helped lead Purdue to a runner-up showing in the Big Ten standings and an NCAA Regional bid, both of which came to fruition thanks in a part to a memorable 21-2 hot stretch from mid-April through Memorial Day Weekend. The lefty racked up 12 saves during that stretch.
Learnard will work alongside pitching coach Chris Marx and director of player development John Madia in preparing Purdue's players for success in the student-athlete experience.
"Everyone at Alexander is thrilled to have Ross return to our program," Goff said. "He's very bright and has always set a high standard with his preparation and work ethic. I'm confident he can work together with Chris and John to help all our players. Ross is just a few years removed from proving that pitching is an art form and you can find success in multiple ways if the proper analysis, mentality and prep work is in place.
"In addition, Ross will lead the day-to-day operations for baseball – including our logistics like travel, meals and budgets. He'll provide supervision of our student managers, manage game contracts, and ensure student-athletes are aware and engaged on all services available to them."
"I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity to come back to Purdue and work with Coach Goff and his staff," Learnard said. "I'm passionate about this program and look forward to giving everything I have to help prepare these student-athletes for success in every aspect of their experience at Purdue. I'm very eager to get to work and it's exciting to be back home at Alexander."
Since graduating from Purdue in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in agribusiness, Learnard has coached at Illinois State and Parkland College. Working under former Purdue assistants Steve Holm and Wally Crancer, Learnard was ISU's director of operations as a graduate assistant during the 2018-19 school year. The Redbirds won the Missouri Valley Conference that season. The following year he was ISU's volunteer assistant coach and director of camps.
Learnard helped Parkland qualify for the NJCAA DII World Series in 2016 before transferring to Purdue. He returned to Champaign as an assistant coach with Parkland for the 2021 season and helped guide the Cobras to 36 wins, a 23-9 record in conference play and the No. 2 seed in the Region 24 Tournament.
Learnard replaces Purdue alumnus Tim Sarhage, the former team manager who was promoted to the fulltime operations role after graduating in December 2019. Sarhage moved on in June to begin his career as a firefighter and EMT in Lafayette.
Learnard was Purdue's pitcher of the year honoree in 2017 after a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 35 2/3 helped him post an ERA of 0.58, eclipsing a team benchmark that had stood since 1965. He was named a second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The following year when his team-record 15 saves earned him All-America accolades from Collegiate Baseball, the lefty became the first player in program history to be a full-fledged All-American in multiple seasons. He worked 24 consecutive scoreless innings as a senior and closed out all three games of series sweeps of Maryland and Michigan.
Learnard was also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, All-Big Ten performer, Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week. He was Parkland's Male Athlete of the Year in 2016 and later selected to the Cobras' All-Decade Team. In May 2020, Learnard also earned a spot on Purdue's Build A Ballclub Best of the 2000s team.
