Douglas Leichner is in his eighth season on the staff of the Black Bears.

Leichner returned to the Black Bears for the 2009-10 season after coaching the UCC Demons of the Irish Professional SuperLeague during the 2008-09 season.

Last season, Leichner, whose primary responsibility is working with the post players, defensive schemes and recruiting, developed Mike Allison into an America East All-Defensive Team honoree and saw Alasdair Fraser garner Third Team All-America East accolades. In addition, during the 2012-13 season, Fraser and Allison became just the second and third players in school history (following former NBA player Jeff Cross) to notch 500 rebounds and 100 career blocks.

Leichner has now coached three All-Defensive players in the last five seasons.

Leichner also signed Justin Edwards, who was the eighth-ranked prospect in Canada, and developed into an America East All-Rookie honoree as well as the CollegeHoops.net America East Rookie of the Year.

In 2010-11, Leichner helped spark Troy Barnies to earn First Team All-America East and All-District Honors. Barnies would go on to earn tryouts with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, and would sign a professional contract to play in Turkey.

Leichner’s expertise with post players immediately impacted the Black Bears as Sean McNally earned Third Team All-America East recognition in 2009-10 while Murphy Burnatowski was named to the All-Rookie Team. Maine notched the third-most wins in school history with 19, finished third in the conference and notched its first win over Boston College in 85 years.

In addition, Maine ranked among the nation’s statistical leaders in field goal percentage defense (19th), scoring defense (39th) and few- est personal fouls per game (16th). A defensive strategist, Leichner has helped produced two America East All-Defensive Team selections in his past three seasons at Maine.

A tireless recruiter, Leichner successfully signed Fraser, the 32nd ranked prospect in Europe, for the 2010-11 season as well as Noam Laish who was the 47th ranked prospect prior to last season, and Justin Edwards, who was the eighth-ranked prospect in Canada, and developed into an America East All-Rookie honoree as well as the CollegeHoops.net America East Rookie of the Year last season. For 2012-13, Leichner recruited a strong class that included Till Gloger, the Most Valuable Player of the Under-19 German League among others. 

Leichner’s extensive duties with the Black Bears include recruitment coordinator, game scheduling, scouting of opponents, equipment ordering and purchasing, fundraising activities, practice organization, on-floor coaching as well as academic monitoring, advising and mentoring.

The 2008-2009 season proved to be an unprecedented campaign as head coach of the professional club UCC Demons in Cork, Ireland. The Demons finished 22-1-1 and captured the elusive “Treble” for the first time in Irish basketball history. They were the SuperLeague Southern Conference Champions, the 2009 Irish National Cup Champions as well as the SuperLeague Champions. As a result of his team’s success, Leichner was named SuperLeague Coach of the Year, Eurobasket.com Ireland Coach of the Year and Streetball Ireland Coach of the Year.

Leichner went to the Demons after serving the previous four at Maine. He was the lead international recruiter and assisted in developing many of the Black Bears offensive and defensive schemes.

Leichner came to Maine after spending seven seasons as a high school head coach in Florida. He had stops at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Merritt Island High School and Episcopal High School in Jacksonville.

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 NCAA Division II Stonehill.

A 1992 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Leichner was a four-year letterman, 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 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.

He has accumulated a career head coaching record of 137-83-1 for a .610 winning percentage while earning 10 Coach of the Year honors and six championships.

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, who is an avid traveler, is conversational in German, Spanish and Italian and is an active member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Leichner, and his wife, Traci, have two children, Matthias, who is nine, and Markus, who is seven.