William Ross Clites enters his third year with the Bears, working primarily with pitchers, serving as the bench coach, and assisting with recruiting.
Washington University pitchers have won at least 28 games, saved at least 7 games, struck out at least 215 batters, and kept opponents’ batting averages under .295 in each of his first two years on the coaching staff.
In Clites’ first season, the pitching staff lowered the team ERA by more than two runs from that of the 2010 campaign (7.56 to 5.25). This number dramatically fell again in 2012, posting a final mark of 3.98.
Highlights of his first two seasons include an NCAA Regional appearance (only the eighth postseason bid in school history) and the mentoring of pitcher Stephen Bonser to two All-UAA honors, two All-Region awards, and a no-hitter in 2011. The Bears have also put together three winning streaks of at least eight games, a feat for any team with a strength of schedule consistently ranked in the top-20 in Division III.
Clites came to the Danforth Campus from Kent State University, where he was a walk-on pitcher for three seasons (2006-08) for the Golden Flashes. Kent is also where Clites began his coaching career, leading the school’s NCBA Division I baseball team while in graduate school.
During the summer, Clites coaches the Old Bonhomme Bombers—a U10 team in the local Olivette Youth League. He also travels to several camps across the country with high school showcase organizations like DeMarini Top96.
Before moving to St. Louis, Clites was previously employed at Braun & Steidl Architects in Akron, Ohio. Clites graduated with a bachelor of science degree in architecture in 2008, a master’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in business administration in 2010—all from Kent State University.
With a design background, Clites is often the lead graphic designer for the Bears baseball program. Most of the team’s logos, brochures, and apparel designs pass through his computer.
A 2004 graduate of Sand Creek High School (Mich.), where he attended for three years, Clites was an all-conference, all-county, and academic all-state honoree in golf, basketball, and baseball. His freshman year was spent at Greensburg Central Catholic High School in Pennsylvania.
Along with coaching baseball, Clites is an Assistant General Manager of The Courses in Forest Park—managing operations at The Highlands Course and Tennis Center. The son of William Scott and Barbara, he was born in Edgewood, Ky. His parents now reside in Adrian, Mich.