Wofford College Athletics

Jason Burke returned to the Wofford baseball staff in the summer of 2011 as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Burke was an assistant for the Terriers in 2006 and 2007 before spending four seasons at Gardner-Webb. For each of the last four years, the Wofford pitching staff has set new school records for strikeouts in a season. In addition, four pitchers have been selected in the MLB Draft.
    
In 2015, the team won a school-record 39 games as the pitching staff recorded 503 strikeouts in 532.0 innings. The 503 strikeouts were the second-most in the Southern Conference, while the staff ERA of 4.91 was third in the league. The 4.91 ERA marked only the second time in the last 30 seasons at Wofford that a staff has posted an ERA under 5.00.
    
Junior Matt Milburn was named to the All-Southern Conference first team, while junior Will Stillman was named second team and freshman Adam Scott was selected to the Southern Conference All-Tournament Team along with the All-Freshman Team. Milburn led the league in wins with 10 and he was fifth in the conference in strikeouts with 87. Scott was third in the SoCon in ERA at 3.68 and his complete game shutout of Furman in the conference tournament eliminated the Paladins.
    
For the first time in school history, two players - both pitchers - were selected in the MLB Draft in 2015. Junior Luke Leftwich was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round, the highest pick of a Terrier since 2007 (Brandon Waring). Leftwich had 114 strikeouts on the season, second-most in a single season in school history. Junior Will Stillman was a 29th round selection by the Boston Red Sox after posting a school-record 15 saves.
    
The 2014 season was his third as the pitching coach and his staff led the Southern Conference in strikeouts with 496 while posting a school-record 32 wins. The 496 strikeouts were the most in school history, while the 533.1 innings pitched were the second-most. Among the national leaders, the Terriers were seventh in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (8.4). Jesse Morris was second in the SoCon with nine wins and he was fourth in strikeouts with 84. Morris ended his career third in school history with 253 strikeouts. Eric Eck was fourth in the league in saves with a school-record twelve and he was tied for second in the Southern Conference record book with 29 career saves. Will Stillman was fifth in the SoCon in appearances.
    
In the 2013 season, the pitching staff was fourth in the Southern Conference in strikeouts with 448, topping the school-record set in 2012. Jesse Morris had 102 strikeouts, becoming only the fourth player in school history to break the century mark. Will Stillman was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team. Pitcher J.D. Osborne was selected in the 36th round of the MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
    
During his first season back at Wofford, Brandon Yarusi was named second team All-Southern Conference with 107 strikeouts, the most in the Division I-era. The pitching staff’s combined earned run average was 4.79, the lowest for a Wofford squad since 1983. The 416 strikeouts set a school record, while the opponent’s batting average of .255 was the lowest in the Division I-era. Pitcher Alex Wilson was drafted in the 15th round by the Atlanta Braves.
    
In 2011, Gardner-Webb advanced to the Big South Conference Tournament championship game. The school finished with a top-100 RPI for the first time in program history. The 34-23-1 record marked the program’s best season at the Division I level. Burke helped develop a strong bullpen that allowed Gardner-Webb to tie the school record for saves in a season with 16.
    
Prior to joining Gardner-Webb, the Duncan, S.C., native spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Wofford College – where he helped lead the Terriers to the 2007 Southern Conference Tournament title and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Regional at the University of South Carolina. Burke served as head coach in 2008 for the Hornell Dodgers of the New York Collegiate League, and was named Southern Collegiate Baseball League Coach of the Year in 2006 after directing the Morganton (N.C.) Aggies to the summer circuit’s championship.
    
The Byrnes High graduate also has wooden-bat coaching experience with the Carolina Chaos (SCBL), and has served in a variety of coaching roles on the high school and American Legion levels.
    
Burke began his college playing career at Lander under current GWU head coach Rusty Stroupe. He finished that career at Southern Wesleyan University, where he graduated in 2004. He also completed a masters degree at Gardner-Webb in Sport Science and Pedagogy.
    
Jason and his wife, Ansley, reside in Greenville, S.C., with their son, Sullivan.