Purdue alum Jason Pullara joined the athletics department staff as director of strength and conditioning in August of 2019. He oversees all sports other than football.
Pullara returned to the Boilermakers from Northwestern, where he worked for 18 years. He started as an intern (2001-02) and subsequently was elevated to an assistant strength and conditioning coach (2002-11) and then assistant athletics director for sports performance (2011-19). In his most recent role, Pullara oversaw the sports performance program for all sports other than football while providing vision and direction for his department. He coached and helped develop numerous All-Americans and All-Big 10 honorees, as well as multiple Player of the Year winners.
Pullara served as the sports performance coach for the Northwestern women’s lacrosse program during all seven of its NCAA championships from 2005 to 2012. The softball program earned NCAA Tournament bids in seven of his seasons with the program, finishing among the top 16 teams in the country in 2005 and 2008 while placing second at the Women's College World Series in 2006 and third in 2007.
Pullara is Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
A native of Joliet, Illinois, Pullara earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and fitness with a minor in psychology from Purdue in 2001. He earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern in 2011. As an undergraduate, Pullara played rugby. A two-year team captain, he was a three-time all-conference selection and team Most Valuable Player and two-time All-Midwest Regional pick.
Jason and his wife, Erin (a 2004 Purdue graduate), have four children: Lucca, Angelo, Mazie and Simi.
