Lander Baseball Camps - Coaching Staff

JASON BURKE

Head Coach

Jason Burke is entering his sixth season as head coach of the Lander baseball program. Burke became the Bearcats' sixth baseball coach when he was hired in August 2016.

The 2021 season saw the Bearcats enter the national rankings for the first time since 2016. Three players (Ward Betts, Roury Glanton and Marshall Thompson) were also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District® Baseball team.

Since arriving at Lander, Burke has coached five all-Peach Belt Conference selections and had three players selected in the MLB Draft (Alex Moore, Ryan Troutman, Fraser Ellard).

Burke spent five seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Wofford College before coming to Lander. During his time with the Terriers, five Wofford pitchers were selected in the Major League Baseball draft and three were chosen to the All-Southern Conference team. Prior to his time at Wofford, Burke spent four seasons on the staff at Gardner-Webb under former Lander head coach Rusty Stroupe. Burke played for Stroupe at Lander in 2001. The former Bearcat player spent the 2006-07 seasons as an assistant at Wofford.

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 and finished at Southern Wesleyan University, where he graduated in 2004. He also completed a master's degree at Gardner-Webb in Sport Science and Pedagogy. He and his wife, Ansley, have one son, Sullivan.

RICKY SANTIAGO

Recruiting Coordinator/Hitting Coach

Ricky Santiago is entering his second season as Lander's assistant baseball coach. Santiago was hired in October of 2018 and serves as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator.

Santiago worked at Nova Southeastern from 2017-18, helping lead the Sharks to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Nova Southeastern led the nation in home runs in 2017, setting a program record with 97 long balls.

Prior to his arrival at Nova Southeastern, Santiago played at Florida Atlantic from 2012-15. As a senior, Santiago was named a Louisville Slugger All-American, leading the Owls in doubles, home runs and RBI. Santiago led the Owls to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2015. The 2015 team posted a 42-19 overall record, the best for the program since 2004.