LeClair, 40, Dies Of ALS

Former East Carolina coach was part of 13 regional teams as player and coach

By John Manuel
July 17, 2006

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See also: Chris Kline's feature on Keith LeClair in 2004
See also: John Manuel's feature on LeClair in 2002

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Keith LeClair had two significant careers in college baseball, first as an all-conference player at Western Carolina, then as a head coach at his alma mater and later East Carolina.

He was part of 13 NCAA tournament teams as a player and coach, and as a player, the former walk-on set single-season Western Carolina records for hits and total bases. As a coach, his Pirates teams included Diamondbacks infielder Chad Tracy and a slew of players who followed him into coaching, such as Eric Bakich (Vanderbilt), Cliff Godwin (LSU) and Joe Hastings (Boston College).

When LeClair's career was at its peak, in 2001, his East Carolina team went 47-13, losing to Tennessee in a super-regional played in Kinston, N.C., with East Carolina as the host. His team was loaded wth veterans in the field (three seniors and five juniors got most of the playing time) but was young enough on the mound to think that 2001 would not be the last great East Carolina team of his tenure.

But in fact it was, and LeClair knew at the time. He knew a history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ran in his family. And he knew early in 2001 that he was showing the symptoms.

LeClair died at his home in Greenville, N.C., on Monday. He was 40.

"Keith LeClair and his approach to life touched so many people in this community while providing inspiration for all who had the good fortune to meet and know him," East Carolina athletics director Terry Holland said in a statement. "His legacy in Pirate athletics is unmatched and his good counsel will be sorely missed in our daily lives."

LeClair officially gave up his post in June 2002, though assistant coaches Kevin McMullen (now at Virginia) and Tommy Eason (now at Pitt, N.C., Community College) piloted the team for much of the season. That last club went 43-20-1, bringing LeClair's career record to 441-231-3 in just 11 seasons.

"Keith was like a son, brother, and best friend to me," said Clemson coach Jack Leggett, who coached LeClair at Western Carolina. "He's a person who I learned a lot more from than he ever learned from me. He's a tremendous credit to coaching, and all those that he had a chance to touch are better off for it."

LeClair is survived by his wife, Lynn, and two children, Audrey and J.D., and his father and mother, Andy and Doris LeClair from Walpole, N.H. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the ALS Foundation, SPORTworks Ministry and The Pirate Club.

LeClair has been honored since leaving coaching in several ways. Conference USA named its coach of the year award after him (even though LeClair's ECU teams toiled in the Colonial Athletic Association). East Carolina's outstanding on-campus ballpark, completed in 2003, is named Clark-LeClair Stadium, after the coach and a family that donated much of the money to build the park.

Perhaps the most fitting tribute is the number of former LeClair players who are now coaching in college baseball, which includes Bakich, Godwin, Hastings, Bryant Ward (assistant coach, South Florida) and Nick Schnabel (Army).

However, none of his proteges has followed him at East Carolina, which has had some tumult since his retirement. The school hired Randy Mazey as coach starting with the 2003 season, but Mazey lasted only three seasons despite piloting East Carolina to a program-best 51-13 record in 2004. Billy Godwin, formerly of Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College, became head coach, and the Pirates went 33-26 and did not earn an NCAA tournament bid in 2006.

On the field as well as off it, LeClair has proved a tough act to follow. He set the bar that high.

"He will most be remembered for the lives he has touched," Western Carolina coach Todd Raleigh said. "I was his teammate, his assistant coach and friend so I know first hand just how many lives he affected in a positive way. Not only did he get me into coaching, but you can look all around the country at his former players who are now coaching.

"Most people are defined by what they do in terms of wins, honors, accomplishments and things like that. Keith is defined by the way he lived his life. He put his family and religion first and did everything else after that the right way."