DOUG LEICHNER TO HELM UNDER-20S

By Mark Woods on April 11, 2013

University of Maine associate head coach Doug Leichner has been named as the new head coach of Great Britainâ€™s Under-20 menâ€™s team.

The American, who has been in Maine for the eight years in total, will lead the GB under-20 men at the European Championship Division B tournament which takes place in the Romanian city of Targoviste from July 11-21.

He previously took a hiatus from the NCAA to coach Cork-based UCC Demons to the domestic treble in Ireland during a season in charge in 2008-9 and recruited Scottish forward Ali Fraser to Maine two years ago.

Leichner hired (Maine)

“I am privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to coach the Great Britain under-20 men’s team with the ultimate goal of winning a European Championship,â€ said Leichner, who takes over from Canadian Dave Smart whose contract was not renewed.

“I would like to thank British Basketball for this honoured appointment and look forward to leading a great group of young men at the European Championships.”

The hire was backed by Plymouth Raiders’ Colin O’Reilly who saw Leichner up close during his year in Irelamd.

He Tweeted: “Great hard working and player orientated coach. Fantastic hire by GB.”

His assistant will be James Vear who is coming off his first campaign with the University of Dalhousie in Canada following his stint asÂ coach of Medway Park in the EBL Division 1. Long time incumbent Mark Lloyd will be the manager.

Five of last year’s team are eligible to return this season.

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