FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After closing out his playing career as a senior on the 2011 team, Payton Bieker remains a member of the program as Purdue baseball’s volunteer assistant coach, head coach Doug Schreiber has announced.
Bieker assisted with fall practice while completing his bachelor’s degree during the 2011 fall semester. He graduated in December with a degree in health and fitness.
Schreiber’s 2012 coaching staff will feature Jeff Duncan, Tristan McIntyre and Bieker. In September, McIntyre was officially promoted from volunteer assistant to full-time pitching coach. He replaced former assistant Ryan Sawyers, who left the program to join the coaching staff at his alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan.
Bieker was a two-year letter-winner for the Boilers after joining the team as a transfer from Vincennes University. He started 42 of the 71 games in which he saw action in his two seasons at Purdue. The Fort Wayne native started games at four different positions – catcher, right field, left field and designated hitter – during his career. The Boilermakers went 32-10 in games he started.
As the program’s volunteer assistant, Bieker will have an opportunity to work extensively with the catchers. He’ll also assist with outfield defensive instruction and warm-ups, throw batting practice and coach first base regularly. Off the field, he’ll assist with the preparation of scouting reports, travel arrangements and the program’s youth camps.
Bieker was an Academic All-Big Ten student-athlete as a senior while helping the Boilers match the program’s single-season record for victories (37). He batted .385 with 11 extra-base hits as a spot starter in 2010. In each of his two seasons with the program, he tallied more free passes (walks plus hit by pitch) than strikeouts.
