Luke Jaksich was born in Chicago, Illinois, and his family currently resides in St. John, Indiana. He is the proud son of Sandra and George Jaksich, and is a brother to his two siblings Rudy and Taylor. Luke graduated from Andrean High School in 2016, where he won two state championships in 2014 and 2015. He initially attended Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana in 2017–2018, playing baseball under Rick O’Dette, who is now the head coach at Florida Southern. During his time there, the team made it to the Division II NCAA Regional. However, Saint Joseph’s College closed in 2018, prompting Luke to transfer to Ball State University, where he played from 2018 to 2021 under Rich Maloney. During his tenure, the team achieved records of 32-26, 38-19, and 38-18 over three full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened year. Luke posted a 3.45 ERA in 2021, pitching 73 innings and striking out 96 batters. He graduated with a degree in General Studies and minors in Communications and Psychology.
In 2021, Luke played a half season with the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association of Independent Baseball. His coaching career began in 2021–2022 as a pitching coach at Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia under Zac Mishler. From 2022 to 2024 he served as a Performance Coach and Assistant Director of Pitching Development at PRP Baseball in Indianapolis, Indiana. There, he worked closely with high school, college, and professional pitchers. Guys he worked with include: Garrett Burhenn (Detroit Tigers), Sam Bachman (Los Angeles Angels), Bryan Hoeing (San Diego Padres), and Chayce McDermott (Baltimore Orioles). Additionally, Luke collaborated with Anthony Gomez, a rehab pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, learning about pitching metrics, bodily functions, and performance optimization.
In July 2024, Luke was hired as a pitching coach before being promoted to the Interim Head Baseball Coach at Warner University. Reflecting on his journey, Luke credits Coach Rich Benjamin for significantly influencing his life, not just as a coach, but as a Christian leader. He approaches the season with enthusiasm, emphasizing the team’s faith and their relationships with God as cornerstones of their identity. He is eager to face challenges with the team, helping them leverage their skills and navigate adversity.
