Mike Leonard, a former Boston Red Sox minor leaguer and All-BigEast catcher at the University of Connecticut, was appointed ashead baseball coach at Bates College in November 2010.
Leonard has led the Bobcats to three winning seasons in hisfirst three years, for a cumulative record of 63-49. Under hisguidance, Bates has placed four players on the NESCACAll-Conference First Team. Other postseason individual honorsinclude a 2013 ECAC All-Star nod for catcher Mekae Hyde.
Leonard was drafted by the Red Sox following an All-Big Eastcareer at the University of Connecticut, where he earned hisbachelor’s degree in political science in 2004. He spent fouryears as a catcher in the Red Sox minor league system, includingtwo months with the Double A Portland Sea Dogs. He concluded hisprofessional career in 2009 as a player-coach under former Red Soxcatcher Rich Gedman with the Worcester Tornadoes of the independentCan-Am League.
"Mike is the person best suited to continue the arc of successthat has been established with Bates baseball," Bates Director ofAthletics Kevin McHugh said at the time of Leonard's appointment.McHugh said he was impressed by Leonard’s coachingphilosophy and his plan for the team’s future, which combines"a unique blend" of the influences of some of his former coaches,such as his two head coaches at Connecticut, Andy Baylock and JimPenders; St. Lawrence head coach Tom Fay; and Red Sox major leaguecoaching assistant Rob Leary, a former minor league instructor forthe organization. McHugh also cited Leonard’s playingbackground, his coaching experience and "the unique and highlyapplicable lessons that he learned while playingprofessionally."
Leonard began his collegiate coaching career as an assistantcoach at St. Lawrence University in 2008 and 2009, with primaryresponsibilities for pitchers, catchers, hitters and strength andconditioning. At St. Lawrence he earned a master of educationdegree in 2009.
Appointed head coach at Elms College in 2010, he led the Blazersto a 10-22 record. Leonard also instituted the “BlazerBuddies” after-school mentor program that served 15elementary school children.
"I know that Bates, the athletic department and Kevin McHugh arecommitted to the same kind of athletic and academic excellence thatI am," said Leonard. "I really look forward to being one piece ofthat."
A four-year starting catcher for Division I Connecticut, Leonardwas an All-Big East selection in 2002 and 2003, and he remains onthe Huskies’ top-15 career lists in hits (205), runs battedin (118), at bats (648) and games played (177). He was a teamcaptain, a Dee Rowe Athletic Scholarship winner and a Big EastAcademic All-Conference honoree. During his college years he alsoplayed with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League.Leonard starred at Rockville (Conn.) High School, and was namedConnecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and the HartfordCourant Player of the Year.
During his stint with the Red Sox, he played for the Gulf CoastLeague Red Sox, the Lowell Spinners, and the Greenville Drivebefore reaching Portland. While with the Spinners in 2005, Leonardcompeted alongside such future major leaguers as Jed Lowrie, ClayBuchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury.
In 2013, Leonard was inducted into the Rockville (Conn.) HighSchool Athletic Hall of Fame.
