NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College men’s basketball head coach Tim Cluess announced the appointment of Douglas Leichner as assistant coach for the 2014-15 season. Leichner comes to New Rochelle from the University of Maine.
Cluess also announced Bill O’Keefe will take over as director of basketball operations after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach. Former director of operations Garee Bryant stepped down to take an administrative position outside of college athletics.
Leichner has been a successful head coach for nine seasons with a proven track record at six different levels of basketball, while guiding five programs from hardship to prosperity. He has garnered “Coach of the Year” accolades on ten occasions and has won six championships. Leichner’s record the last two seasons, as a head coach, is (39-2-1) .928 winning percentage with an overall record of (153-84-1) .645 winning percentage. He spent nine of the last 10 years on the bench at the University of Maine including the last five as associate head coach. After a four-year stint as assistant coach from 2004-2008, Leichner was head coach for one year of the UCC Demons Basketball Club in Cork, Ireland.
While at Maine the last two summers, Leichner served as head coach of the Great Britain U20 National Team. Taking over the position in April 2013, the appointment solidified him as a figure in the global basketball market. Leichner made an immediate impact leading Great Britain to an unprecedented championship appearance and a promotion to U20 Division A European Championships. The team was 16-1 under his tenure including an unbeaten preparation phase (9-0). Great Britain was also undefeated in pool play including a victory over the eventual champion Poland. Leichner designed an exciting up-tempo style of play that paid immediate dividends as Great Britain led the tournament in several categories including: scoring, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals made, free throw percentage, free throws made and fewest turnovers.
“Doug brings a wealth of experience on the International recruiting side in addition to his ability to develop post performers,” said Cluess. “We’re looking forward to having him come on board.”
