Baseball Hires Luke Jaksich as Assistant Coach
August 22, 2025 | Baseball
The Ball State baseball team has announced the hire of Luke Jaksich as an assistant coach for the program.
Jaksich, a Ball State alumnus, was a left-handed pitcher for the Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, compiling a 9-8 record and 4.37 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 136 innings during his time in Muncie. The Saint John, Ind., native started 12 of 19 games pitched as a senior in 2021, posting a 3.45 ERA and 96 punchouts in 73 frames.
Jaksich played a half season with the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association after his collegiate career wrapped up. The next step in his career was a season as a pitching coach at NCAA Division II Alderson Broaddus University before working from 2022 to 2024 as a performance coach and the assistant director of pitching development at PRP Baseball in Indianapolis. Most recently, Jaksich was the pitching coach and interim head coach at Warner University in Lake Wales, Fla.
"We are thrilled to have Luke Jaksich back with us at Ball State," head coach Rich Maloney said. "Luke was a fierce competitor when he pitched for us. He understands the Ball State Way and will assist Coach Wechsler with our pitchers.
"Luke has worked hard with PRP then coaching at Warner University to develop his pitching acumen. He will add value to our pitching staff. Having three of my former players coaching with me is pretty special."
Jaksich joins Maloney, assistant coach / recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney and pitching coach Justin Wechsler as the coaching staff heading into the 2026 season.
"I am especially blessed to be back in Muncie and am extremely grateful for Coach Maloney for having me as a Cardinal again," said Jaksich. "I am excited to carry on the standards that Ball State baseball upholds to develop young men and compete for a MAC Championship every year.
"Thank you to the University, alumni and community for their continuous support throughout the years, and I am looking forward to bringing the utmost liveliness to the program."
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Jaksich, a Ball State alumnus, was a left-handed pitcher for the Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, compiling a 9-8 record and 4.37 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 136 innings during his time in Muncie. The Saint John, Ind., native started 12 of 19 games pitched as a senior in 2021, posting a 3.45 ERA and 96 punchouts in 73 frames.
Jaksich played a half season with the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association after his collegiate career wrapped up. The next step in his career was a season as a pitching coach at NCAA Division II Alderson Broaddus University before working from 2022 to 2024 as a performance coach and the assistant director of pitching development at PRP Baseball in Indianapolis. Most recently, Jaksich was the pitching coach and interim head coach at Warner University in Lake Wales, Fla.
"We are thrilled to have Luke Jaksich back with us at Ball State," head coach Rich Maloney said. "Luke was a fierce competitor when he pitched for us. He understands the Ball State Way and will assist Coach Wechsler with our pitchers.
"Luke has worked hard with PRP then coaching at Warner University to develop his pitching acumen. He will add value to our pitching staff. Having three of my former players coaching with me is pretty special."
Jaksich joins Maloney, assistant coach / recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney and pitching coach Justin Wechsler as the coaching staff heading into the 2026 season.
"I am especially blessed to be back in Muncie and am extremely grateful for Coach Maloney for having me as a Cardinal again," said Jaksich. "I am excited to carry on the standards that Ball State baseball upholds to develop young men and compete for a MAC Championship every year.
"Thank you to the University, alumni and community for their continuous support throughout the years, and I am looking forward to bringing the utmost liveliness to the program."
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