Leroy Vega served seven seasons on the Purdue wrestling coaching staff before departing the program in August 2026, including his final two seasons as the Boilermakers' head assistant coach.
Vega was elevated to the role of head assistant coach in June 2024 following five years of service with the Purdue wrestling program. During his seven seasons on staff, Vega was a key leader in the development of two national runners-up, 10 All-Americans, 41 NCAA qualifiers and 34 Big Ten placewinners.
A three-time All-American himself at 125 pounds for Minnesota, Vega specialized in coaching the lighter weights. His influence helped bring Matt Ramos to West Lafayette, where Ramos developed into Purdue's first national finalist and two-time All-American since 2006.
Prior to becoming head assistant coach, Vega served as an assistant coach during the 2023-24 season, Purdue's first-ever player development associate in 2022-23 and a volunteer assistant coach from 2019-22.
As the program's player development associate, Vega served as a counselor for the program and utilized campus and outside resources to help student-athletes grow in their personal and professional skills. He also worked directly with the coaching staff to design workouts and individual programming for the Boilermakers, with an emphasis on maximizing each wrestler's skill set and competitive growth.
Vega joined the Purdue staff following eight years as head coach at his alma mater, Portage High School, in northwest Indiana. His name is well known throughout the Indiana high school wrestling scene, both from his days on the mat and his time in the corner. During his tenure at Portage, Vega coached 41 Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament qualifiers, including 10 finalists and three individual state champions. In 2015, the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association named Vega its coach of the year.
As a prep at Portage, Vega was a two-time state champion, winning titles in 1996 and 1997. His success also extended to the international stage. In 1998, Vega placed ninth at 60 kg at the UWW Junior Greco-Roman World Championships. The following year, competing at 54 kg in freestyle, he placed seventh at the world championships.
Vega wrestled collegiately at Minnesota from 1999-2002, establishing himself as one of the program's most accomplished 125-pounders. He earned All-America honors three times and captured the Big Ten Conference 125-pound title in 2002. His performances helped the Gophers win three Big Ten team titles and back-to-back NCAA team championships in 2001 and 2002.
Vega finished his Minnesota career with a 135-26 record, with his 135 wins ranking fifth all-time in program history and his .839 winning percentage ranking 17th. He posted a 65-14 career dual record, with his 65 dual wins tied for seventh on Minnesota's individual dual wins list.
Prior to his head coaching appointment at Portage, Vega was named the inaugural head coach at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana, following the establishment of the program in 2008. He remained at the helm through the 2009-10 season before returning to his roots in Portage.
Vega earned his Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and teaching from Minnesota in 2002. He and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters, LillyAnna and Lilah, and a son, Lydon.