Goff Honored by FCA with Kindall Character in Coaching Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For his career-long commitment to integrity, excellence, teamwork and community outreach, Purdue Baseball head coach Greg Goff has been recognized with the Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Goff accepted the award at FCA’s annual breakfast on the final day of the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, which was held in Columbus, Ohio, the weekend of Jan. 7-10.

FCA annually presents the Kindall Award at the ABCA Convention to the college or high school baseball coach who best exemplifies the Christian principles of character, integrity, excellence, teamwork and service.

Goff joined the coaching staff at Alexander Field in the summer of 2017 and was elevated to head coach in June 2019, with the 2026 campaign set to be his seventh season as head coach. He has also served as the head coach at Montevallo (2004-07), Campbell (2008-14), Louisiana Tech (2015-16) and Alabama (2017), winning over 600 games during his career. Along the way, he has encouraged players to embrace their community and campus through service and selflessness.

“Coach Goff’s commitment to keeping Christ at the center of his team is one of the many reasons why he embodies the spirit and character of Jerry Kindall,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “He has a servant’s heart and carries a positive attitude, encouraging his players to not give up in any game or in any obstacle that comes their way.”

As a former big leaguer and head coach at the University of Arizona, Kindall was the inaugural recipient of the award named in his honor. Kindall was well-known and respected among his peers, becoming the first person in NCAA history to win NCAA Division I College World Series titles as both a player and a head coach. He was the shortstop for Minnesota’s 1956 national championship team and went on to coach Arizona to three College World Series titles (1976, 1980, 1986). Kindall was a three-time ABCA National Coach of the Year, the recipient of ABCA’s prestigious Lefty Gomez Award in 1999 and inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. He also served as a commentator for the Big Ten Network during the final decade of his life, passing away on Christmas Eve in 2017.

“I feel blessed to be recognized by the FCA. Jerry Kindall exemplified faith and character as a ballplayer and coach – what a great standard he set in college baseball. I’ve always strived to lead my teams in a similar fashion,” Goff said. “Faith has always guided my leadership and perspective. And I’m grateful for the guidance and camaraderie that FCA provides to players and coaches. I would also like to highlight Purdue’s team chaplain Marty Dittmar for his friendship and the impact he has on our program. Marty is a great asset to FCA and Purdue Athletics.”

Coach Goff has coached 11 future big leaguers and over 50 MLB Draft picks, highlighted by Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb while he was the pitching coach at Kentucky (2000-03). Joe Blanton (Kentucky) and Ryan Thompson (Campbell) also pitched for Goff during their collegiate careers, going on to help their MLB teams make it to the World Series.

Goff led Campbell and Louisiana Tech to 40-win seasons that featured NCAA Regional appearances. He also led Montevallo to the 2006 NCAA Division II World Series. The last two years, Purdue has won 30-plus games in consecutive seasons for the ninth time in program history.

Beyond his coaching accomplishments, Goff has demonstrated his love for the Lord to each of his athletes. He speaks about his faith in team meetings and in practices and leads the team in a pregame prayer on the field at every game. Optional chapel services are offered at the team hotel on weekend road trips.

“There isn’t a player or staff person on the Purdue Baseball team who doesn’t know or understand Coach Goff’s desire and commitment to do the right thing all the time and to honor God,” Dittmar said. “I have served at Purdue for almost 40 years. In all that time of serving the athletic department and knowing countless coaches, none has been as strong, committed and full of Gospel faith on and off the place of competition like Coach Goff.”

As a man of character, Goff recruits young men with a heart for hard work and a willingness to be a part of a team. He expects his players to do their jobs and do it with excellence, guiding each player to serve others, the team and those in the community.

“Coach Goff is a perfect representation of a Christ-centered man who has both leadership and servant traits,” senior pitcher Barron Sawyer said. “He is a man who perfectly exemplifies a follower of Christ by bringing those around him closer to God, while putting himself second to make sure everyone around him is taken care of.

“Coach Goff has set an example for every young man that he has encountered. A man that understands while we have players who are from all over the country, from different backgrounds, with different family situations, with different beliefs, he shines a light on God to show all of his players that anything is possible if you keep your faith in the Good Lord. Coach Goff is more than a baseball coach; he is a servant of God as a leader of men.”

Longtime Kentucky head coach and former ABCA President Keith Madison hired Goff to be the pitching coach at Kentucky. Madison has served as the featured speaker at Purdue’s annual First Pitch Dinner. “Coach Goff has that great combination of faith and character. He goes the extra mile for family and friends. He’s a fierce competitor and a confident coach, but he also exudes humility and wants to follow Jesus and grow even more as a believer,” Madison said. “Jerry Kindall was a close friend of mine. If Jerry was alive today and if he knew Greg, he would love and respect him as a competitive coach and as a follower of Jesus Christ.”