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Features
ABOUT THE COACH...During his 11 seasons at the University of Cincinnati, Brian Cleary has established himself as one of the top coaches ever to lead the Bearcats on the diamond. After taking over a struggling program in 1997, Cleary has led the Bearcats to 267 wins in his career, ranking second on the school's all-time win list behind the legendary Glenn Sample.
- By building with youth, the 38-year-old Cleary has established a strong core of young athletes. He has upgraded the talent level within the program thanks to an emphasis on aggressive recruiting. Cleary has now set his sights on taking the program to the NCAA Tournament after a 30-plus year absence.
- For the past four seasons, Cleary has rebuilt a team that should be poised to contend for BIG EAST championships upon the program's move to the new conference this season. With the completion of the state-of-the-art Marge Schott Stadium and the signing of three straight top recruiting classes, Cleary's team should be one to watch in the BIG EAST for years to come.
- In the fall of 2007, Cleary served as an assistant coach during the World Championships for the Great Britian National Team. During his stay in Europe, Cleary worked with the British pitchers, helping the squad capture second place at the Championships.
- 2007 ended with UC holding a record of 28-28. At the season's conclusion, pitcher John Baird was the 12th draft pick of the Cleary tenure when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected him in the 24th round of the MLB Draft.
- The progression began to show dividends during the 2006 season as Cleary guided the Bearcats to their sixth 30-win season ever and first post-season appearance since 2001. Following the season, Logan Parker became the 11th draft pick in the Cleary era when the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 12th round of the MLB Draft.
- The 2005 season brought an improvement of 10 victories from the year before, as the Bearcats finished the campaign with a 25-30 mark. The season concluded with Josh Kay and Mark Haske both being selected in the MLB Draft. Later in 2005, UC's recruiting class received honorable mention nationally from Collegiate Baseball magazine.
- Cleary made an immediate impact upon joining the Bearcat family. After inheriting a team that won only five games in 1996, Cleary pushed his teams to increased win totals each of his first four years. After winning 12 games in his first year, he increased that total to 15 in 1998, 30 in 1999 and 35 in 2000.
- The 1999 squad posted a breakthrough 30-29 season, shattering 17 individual and eight team records and finishing as the eighth most improved team in the nation (12-game improvement). The 30 wins marked just the third 30-win season in UC's 115 years of baseball and the first winning campaign since 1995.
- In 2000, the Bearcats won a school record 35 games and advanced to the finals of the C-USA Tournament. The squad also set four individual and eight school records.
- In 2001, UC garnered 34 wins, the second-most in school history, and went 16-11 in Conference USA to finish tied for third. That finish is the best ever by a Bearcat team in Conference USA. Kevin Youkilis was a third-team all-American and one of three Bearcats taken in the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Tony Maynard was named a freshman All-American, and Chris Hamblen was a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the top catcher in the nation. That season, Baseball America named Cleary one of the Top-10 coaches on the rise in Division I.
- Cleary came to UC after three seasons at Tulane, where he helped the Green Wave to a 116-70 mark and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Cleary's efforts as an associate head coach, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator helped Tulane to the 1996 C-USA championship and a top-25 national ranking. In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, Cleary coached the hitters, infielders and baserunners and served as the team's third-base coach.
- A 1990 graduate of Fairfield University, Cleary, a native of Boca Raton, Fla. earned four letters and was a two-time Metro Atlantic Conference All-Academic team pick.
- THE BRIAN CLEARY RECRUITING PHILOSOPHY...Brian Cleary's recruiting philosophy is simple. Start by keeping the best local talent at home. During Cleary's tenure, he has brought a slew of local products to UC, including five who have gone on to play professionally. Former Bearcats and local products Curtus Moak (Cincinnati Reds/Oakland A's), Chris Hamblen (Texas Rangers), Steve Pickerell (Tampa Bay Devils Rays), Matt Singer (New York Yankees) and Kevin Youkilis (Boston Red Sox) have all played minor league baseball in various organizations in recent years. From there, Cleary attracts top players from across the country, including Josh Kay (Oakland A's), Mark Haske (Detroit Tigers) and Logan Parker (Cincinnati Reds) who have all been selected in the last two MLB drafts. Cleary's first three recruiting classes were ranked among the best in the nation by Collegiate Baseball magazine, the only program in Ohio so honored.
- PERSONAL FILE...College: Fairfield (BA in Management, 1990)
- Year at Cincinnati: 12th
- Coaching experience: 17 seasons
- Louisville (1991), assistant coach: Notre Dame (1992-93), assistant coach/recruiting coordinator; Tulane (1994), assistant coach/recruiting coordinator; Tulane (1995-96), associate head coach/recruiting coordinator; Cincinnati (1997-present), head coach.
- Career Record: 267-354-1 overall, same at Cincinnati.
- Playing experience: Fairfield (1987-90), four-time letterwinner; two-time Metro Atlantic Conference All-Academic selection.
- Personal: Married, wife Valerie; children Kevin (8), Michael (6) and Kaelin (4).
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