Ric Lessmann—entering his 44th year as a baseball coach and 15th at Washington University in St. Louis—is one of St. Louis’ most renowned baseball instructors.

In the 27 years before his Washington U. hiring in August 1993, Lessmann built a national reputation for teaching excellence while leading St. Louis Community College at Meramec to a 963-318 composite record. Lessmann, the nation’s third winningest junior college coach, never experienced a losing season and guided the Warriors to the National Junior College World Series nine times. In 1974, Lessmann reached the pinnacle, leading Meramec to a national title.

In addition, the Warriors captured 15 Midwest Community Athletic Conference championships and made 15 Central District V Sectional Tournament appearances under Lessmann.

Since coming to Washington U., Lessmann has continued to lead the Bears’ baseball revival. Nine of his first 14 teams have won 20 or more games, including a program-best 34-7 record in 2006. Last season, the Bears made their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, also winning 30 games for the third-consecutive season. In 2005, WU posted a a then-program-best 32-10 record, a first outright and third overall University Athletic Association (UAA) title, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

His 1999 and 2000 squads won 27 games, and in 2002 the Bears notched a 30-10 record. In 1995, Washington U. captured its first UAA crown and finished with a 24-14 record. In Lessmann’s 13 seasons at the Danforth Campus, the Red and Green have posted an 309-179 mark.

With his 339 victories at WU, Lessmann has joined an elite club of collegiate coaches with 1,000 or more career wins, becoming the 18th coach to achieve the feat in 1995. Lessmann begins the 2008 season with 1,308 all-time victories.

Among his other accomplishments and activities, Lessman has coached youth-league summer teams for 15 years and has been making regular appearances on the KMOX 1120 AM broadcast of “Sports on a Sunday Morning,” with Ron Jacober for the last 12 years. In the summer of 2008, Lessman will coach in the wooden bat St. Louis Metro-Collegiate Baseball League.

Lessmann, the 1974 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Coach of the Year, is a 1991 inductee into the NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame and a 1992 inductee into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.
A graduate of St. Louis’ Southwest High, Lessmann signed with the New York Yankees at the age of 17 as a lefthanded pitcher. During his time as a minor league ball player, he pitched a
no-hitter in the Midwest League in 1955.

Lessmann studied at Harris Teachers College (now Harris-Stowe) during the offseasons and earned his degree in 1960. He earned his master’s from WU in 1963 and began his tenure at Meramec in 1966. Lessmann also completed 36 postgraduate hours at St. Louis University in educational administration.

At Meramec, more than 250 of Lessmann’s players earned scholarships to four-year schools and 40 signed professional contracts. Eight of his players—Scott Bailes (Texas Rangers), Joe Boever (Pittsburgh Pirates), Neil Fiala (Cincinnati Reds), Mike Miller (New York Mets), Scarborough Green (St. Louis Cardinals), Lonnie Maclin (St. Louis Cardinals), Donne Wall (San Diego Padres), Brian Boehringer (San Diego Padres) and T.J. Mathews (Oakland Athletics)—have played in the major leagues.

Quick Facts About Lessmann

Years at WU: 14 (339-190-1, .641)

Previous Coaching Experience: 1965: Head coach at Harris-Stowe Teacher's College. Compiled a 6-7 record. 1966-93: Head coach at Meramec Community College in St. Louis. Compiled a 963-318 record for a winning percentage of .752. During his 27-year tenure, he never experienced a losing season. He guided Meramec to the National Junior College World Series nine times, winning the national title in 1974.

Playing Career: Professional: Signed with the New York Yankees as a pitcher in 1955. Reached the minor league Class B level.

Education: College: Earned master's degree in educational administration from Washington University, 1963. Received bachelor's degree in education from Harris Teacher's College (now Harris-Stowe), St. Louis, 1960.

Honors: Named 1974 National Junior College Coach of the Year; named District Coach of the Year nine times; elected to the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992; elected to the National Junior College Athletic Association Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991; received 1972 John Wray Award (Outstanding Achievement in Sports) from the St. Louis Baseball Writers Association.

Family: Wife's name is Jackie. One son, Scott (41), and one daughter, Tracy (38).

The Lessmann Record (1965-2007)