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Douglas Leichner enters his fourth season as assistant coach with the Black Bears. Known for developing post players, Leichner works extensively with UMaine's forwards. He also assists in recruiting for the Black Bears. Leichner has coached numerous players in his career who have played in either the NBA or in Europe. In 2005-06, he was instrumental in developing freshman Philippe Tchekane Bofia, who earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team. Leichner came to Maine after spending seven seasons as a high school head coach in Florida. He spent four years at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Fla. At Osceola HS, Leichner led the Kowboys to two consecutive Orange Belt Conference Championships. He led the team to the largest single-season turnaround when they went from four to 19 wins. Leichner was a two-time Class 5A District 10 Coach of the Year as well as twice being named Orange Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Prior to coaching at Osceola, he served as head coach at Merritt Island High School during the 1999-00 season and led the team to district runner-ups. He also coached at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he won a District Championship. In 1992, Leichner began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College in Waterbury, Conn. The team advanced to the NCAA Junior College Division II national tournament advancing to the Elite Eight. He also served as an assistant coach during the 1996-97 season at Division II Stonehill. A 1992 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Leichner was a three-year starter and served as captain as a senior. He returned to his alma mater as an administrative assistant for the 1993-94 season and was promoted to assistant coach where he served through the 1995-96 season. He both played for and coached with Maine head coach Ted Woodward while at CCSU. He has worked at the Five-Star Basketball Camp and adidas ABC All-Star Camp in Europe. He has been published in the Five Star Basketball Coaches Playbook. Leichner has coached at numerous additional camps. He has coached a touring team that competed in China and a high school all-star team that played in Spain. Leichner received his bachelor of science degree from Central Connecticut State University in 1992 and his master's in history from Western Connecticut in 1995. Leichner, and his wife, Traci, have two children, Matthias, who is 4, and Markus, who is two. |
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