WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue wrestling head coach Tony Ersland announced promotions for two members of his coaching staff on Thursday morning. Leroy Vega has accepted a new position as an assistant coach while LeRoy Gardner takes his place as the player development associate as the team prepares for the upcoming dual season.
Vega officially becomes the Boilermakers' third assistant coach after the NCAA voted to allow programs to have three full-time assistants in January of this year. He had spent this past season working as the team's player development associate but had been a volunteer assistant coach for the three years prior since joining Ersland's staff in 2019. The new position will allow the three-time NCAA All-American to return to the corner for matches along with an increased role in recruiting.
Gardner, who joined the staff last summer as the volunteer assistant, assumes Vega's old role as the player development associate. The new position sees him shift gears to serve as a counselor for the program, using campus and outside resources to help the student-athletes grow in their personal and professional skills. He will work with the coaching staff to design workouts and individual programing, aiming to maximize each wrestler's skill set and competitive growth.
Ersland and his newly arranged staff will hold their first official practice in late August. The Boilermakers' non-conference schedule is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Vega officially becomes the Boilermakers' third assistant coach after the NCAA voted to allow programs to have three full-time assistants in January of this year. He had spent this past season working as the team's player development associate but had been a volunteer assistant coach for the three years prior since joining Ersland's staff in 2019. The new position will allow the three-time NCAA All-American to return to the corner for matches along with an increased role in recruiting.
Gardner, who joined the staff last summer as the volunteer assistant, assumes Vega's old role as the player development associate. The new position sees him shift gears to serve as a counselor for the program, using campus and outside resources to help the student-athletes grow in their personal and professional skills. He will work with the coaching staff to design workouts and individual programing, aiming to maximize each wrestler's skill set and competitive growth.
Ersland and his newly arranged staff will hold their first official practice in late August. The Boilermakers' non-conference schedule is expected to be announced in the coming days.