Keith LeClair
Encyclopedia
Keith LeClair was both a star athlete and later head baseball coach at Western Carolina University
(Player-1985-88 & Coach-1992-97). During his playing days, LeClair played for current Clemson head baseball coach Jack Leggett
at Western Carolina. He was an All-Southern Conference selection in 1988 while earning SoCon Tournament MVP honors the same season. The former walk-on established Catamount baseball records for hits and total bases in a season. LeClair played on four consecutive Southern Conference
Championship Baseball teams (1985–88). He ranked in the top 10 in six different WCU hitting categories while posting a career .375 batting average and was named MVP of the 1988 Southern Conference Tournament (batted .600/12 RBI).
LeClair signed with the Atlanta Braves after completing his collegiate career and spent the summer of 1988 as an outfielder for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. After a spring training stint with the San Francisco Giants in 1989, he was offered a student assistant coaching position at Western Carolina, which led to full-time responsibilities shortly thereafter.
He became Western Carolina's head coach in 1992 and coached the Catamounts to three Southern Conference
tournament titles and three Southern Conference regular season titles. LeClair was a three time Southern Conference Coach of the Year with a career record at WCU of 229-135.
LeClair became the head baseball coach at East Carolina University
in 1997, coaching there until he was forced to step down by illness in 2002. LeClair became the second-winningest baseball coach in East Carolina history in just five seasons, compiling a 212-96-1 (.688) record. He guided the Pirates to four straight NCAA Regional appearances, three Colonial Athletic Association championships and one Conference USA title. He won the American Baseball Coaches Association's East Region Coach-of-the-Year award in both 1999 and 2001.
He was inducted into both the East Carolina University and Western Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2002. LeClair was honored as the first recipient of the Conference USA
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's (SAAC) Coaches Choice Award. In addition, the Conference USA Baseball Coach-of-the-Year Award was named in honor of LeClair.
LeClair battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, for the five years prior to his death on July 17, 2006. LeClair is survived by his wife, Lynn, son, J.D., and wonderful daughter Audrey.
Coaching Third: The Keith LeClair Story by Bethany Bradsher was published in 2010 (Whitecaps Media, ISBN 978-0-9826353-0-8).
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
(Player-1985-88 & Coach-1992-97). During his playing days, LeClair played for current Clemson head baseball coach Jack Leggett
Jack Leggett
Jack Leggett is the head baseball coach for Clemson University. In 17 seasons, he has led the Tigers to 767 wins . The Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons as head coach, including the College World Series six times.He was named ACC Coach of the year in 1994, 1995 and 2006...
at Western Carolina. He was an All-Southern Conference selection in 1988 while earning SoCon Tournament MVP honors the same season. The former walk-on established Catamount baseball records for hits and total bases in a season. LeClair played on four consecutive Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
Championship Baseball teams (1985–88). He ranked in the top 10 in six different WCU hitting categories while posting a career .375 batting average and was named MVP of the 1988 Southern Conference Tournament (batted .600/12 RBI).
LeClair signed with the Atlanta Braves after completing his collegiate career and spent the summer of 1988 as an outfielder for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. After a spring training stint with the San Francisco Giants in 1989, he was offered a student assistant coaching position at Western Carolina, which led to full-time responsibilities shortly thereafter.
He became Western Carolina's head coach in 1992 and coached the Catamounts to three Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
tournament titles and three Southern Conference regular season titles. LeClair was a three time Southern Conference Coach of the Year with a career record at WCU of 229-135.
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in 1997, coaching there until he was forced to step down by illness in 2002. LeClair became the second-winningest baseball coach in East Carolina history in just five seasons, compiling a 212-96-1 (.688) record. He guided the Pirates to four straight NCAA Regional appearances, three Colonial Athletic Association championships and one Conference USA title. He won the American Baseball Coaches Association's East Region Coach-of-the-Year award in both 1999 and 2001.
He was inducted into both the East Carolina University and Western Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2002. LeClair was honored as the first recipient of the Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's (SAAC) Coaches Choice Award. In addition, the Conference USA Baseball Coach-of-the-Year Award was named in honor of LeClair.
LeClair battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, for the five years prior to his death on July 17, 2006. LeClair is survived by his wife, Lynn, son, J.D., and wonderful daughter Audrey.
Coaching Third: The Keith LeClair Story by Bethany Bradsher was published in 2010 (Whitecaps Media, ISBN 978-0-9826353-0-8).