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Kevin Leighton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin Leighton
Current position
TitleHead Coach
TeamFordham
ConferenceAtlantic 10
Record305–353–1
Biographical details
Born (1979-08-28) August 28, 1979 (age 45)
Brewster, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1998–2001Seton Hall
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002–2005Manhattan (Asst.)
2006–2011Manhattan
2012–presentFordham
Head coaching record
Overall505–472–2
TournamentsA10: 7–8
NCAA: 2–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • Atlantic 10 Tournament (2019)

Kevin Leighton (born August 28, 1979) is an American baseball coach and former player, who is the current head baseball coach of the Fordham Rams. He played college baseball for the Seton Hall Pirates from 1998 to 2001.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] He served as the head coach of the Manhattan (2002–2005).

Playing career

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After a successful high school career in Brewster, New York, Leighton was drafted in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He instead chose to attend college, and played four seasons with Seton Hall, helping the Pirates to the 2001 Big East Conference baseball tournament title, and a pair of NCAA Division I Baseball Championship appearances. Leighton earned his degree from Seton Hall in 2001, and would later add a master's degree from Manhattan College.[1]

Coaching career

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After graduating, Leighton accepted an assistant coach position at Manhattan, serving under then-head coach Steve Trimper. With Trimper's departure for Maine, Leighton was elevated to head coach, after just four years as an assistant. He led the Jaspers to a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball tournament titles and NCAA Division I Baseball Championship appearances. In his first season, the Jaspers won the MAAC Tournament and advanced to regional final the NCAA tournament, resulting in Leighton being named the American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 2006. Manhattan would repeat the performance in 2011, but fell in both NCAA tournament games. In his time at Manhattan, Leighton coached 51 All-Conference players and produced eleven professional players. On July 18, 2012, Leighton was named head coach at Fordham.[1]

Head coaching record

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This table shows Leighton's record as a head coach at the Division I level.

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Manhattan (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (2006–2011)
2006 Manhattan 34–23 17–9 2nd NCAA Regional
2007 Manhattan 35–19 21–5 2nd MAAC Tournament
2008 Manhattan 31–20–1 19–5 1st MAAC Tournament
2009 Manhattan 35–18 18–6 1st MAAC Tournament
2010 Manhattan 31–20 15–9 4th MAAC Tournament
2011 Manhattan 34–19 20–2 1st NCAA Regional
Manhattan: 200–119–1
Fordham (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2012–present)
2012 Fordham 22–34 12–12 8th (13)
2013 Fordham 22–33 8–16 12th (15)
2014 Fordham 24–30 13–14 7th (12) Atlantic 10 tournament
2015 Fordham 22–32 13–11 7th (13) Atlantic 10 tournament
2016 Fordham 29–29 14–10 5th Atlantic 10 tournament
2017 Fordham 27–24 11–12 9th
2018 Fordham 35–19–1 16–8 2nd Atlantic 10 tournament
2019 Fordham 38–22 15–9 4th NCAA Regional
2020 Fordham 8–6 0–0 Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Fordham 24–19 11–9 4th (Small)
2022 Fordham 16–36 9–15 10th
2023 Fordham 19–36 7–17 10th
2024 Fordham 19–33 10–14 T-9th
Fordham: 305–353–1 139–147
Total: 505–472–2

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kevin Leighton". Manhattan Jaspers. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  2. ^ 2013 Yearbook (PDF). Manhattan Jaspers. p. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "2013 Baseball Coaching Staff". Fordham Rams. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  4. ^ "Kevin Leighton named Fordham coach". ESPN. July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Leighton takes over as head coach at Fordham". College Baseball Insider. July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "Leighton takes over at Fordham". NCAA. July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  7. ^ "Ex-Manhattan Jaspers Coach Kevin Leighton Moves To Fordham". CBS 2. July 19, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Dennis Waszak Jr. (June 2, 2011). "Upset-minded Manhattan ready for NCAAs, Florida". USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
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