Tom Lechnir has achieved legendary success since becoming UW-Oshkosh's fifth head baseball coach in 1989.

Under his guidance, the Titans have fashioned a 690-255-1 record with one NCAA Division III championship (1994) and 12 WIAC titles (1989, 1991-99, 2007, 2009). The conference’s all-time leader in victories also ranks high in the national standings with a .730 winning percentage.

UW-Oshkosh has reached the 30-win plateau nine times during Lechnir’s tenure, including a 41-4 record in 1994 and a 41-5 mark in 1998. In addition, Lechnir has guided UW-Oshkosh to 14 NCAA Division III regional tournaments (1990-99, 2003, 2007-08) and nine NCAA Division III World Series (1990-96, 1998, 2003). The Titans finished first at the NCAA Division III World Series in 1994, second in 1993 and third during both 1991 and 1995.

Lechnir has had 23 players sign professional contracts, including 17 who moved to the next level after being selected in Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft. In 1999, UW-Oshkosh had five players (Jack Taschner, Craig Glysch, Kevin Grater, Casey Kopitzke and Sean Parnell) drafted, the most ever selected in one year from a NCAA Division III school.

Lechnir is also responsible for coaching 28 players to a total of 38 NCAA Division III All-America awards. Among the All-Americans are National Player of the Year winners Chris Delarwelle (1990), Tim Jorgensen (1994 & 1995) and Vince Mancuso (2003).

Lechnir's coaching success hasn't gone unnoticed. He was named as the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year in 1994, Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1990-96, 1998 and 2003 and WIAC Coach of the Year in 1998-99 and 2007.

Lechnir has always taught his players to dream big, and one decade ago, he had his own dream. Lechnir wanted to build a baseball stadium for the model NCAA Division III baseball program. Today, that dream is realized with Alumni Stadium. Lechnir, who always leaves things better than he finds them, was the primary driving force behind the planning, fundraising and design of one of the finest baseball facilities in the country.

Prior to becoming the Titans’ head coach, Lechnir served as an assistant coach with UW-Oshkosh from 1983-88. During that time, the Titans registered a 193-36-1 record with one NCAA Division III championship (1985), five NCAA Division III World Series appearances (1984-88) and six WIAC titles. Along with winning the national title in 1985, UW-Oshkosh also finished second in the country during 1987 and 1988.

Lechnir, a graduate of Mosinee High School, played baseball at UW-Oshkosh from 1979-82. The two-year captain was a member of teams that compiled a 101-29 record with three NCAA Division III World Series appearances (1980-82) and four WIAC championships.

An outfielder, Lechnir saw his first regular action with the Titans in 1980. He hit .330 with eight home runs and 40 runs batted in. In 1981, Lechnir hit .289 with seven home runs and 38 runs batted in. Lechnir’s 1982 season was his finest, as he batted .369 with eight home runs and 50 runs batted in. During an 11-2 win over UW-Eau Claire in 1982, Lechnir crushed three home runs to set a program record that stood for nearly 14 seasons.

A member of both the WBCA Hall of Fame and UW-Oshkosh’s Hall of Fame, Lechnir received his bachelor’s (1983) and master’s degrees (1989) from UW-Oshkosh. He and his wife, Tina, have twin sons, Drew and Zach.

In 1997, Baseball America recognized UW-Oshkosh’s tradition of winning games, capturing championships and producing professional players by naming it the Top NCAA Division III Baseball Program of the 1990s and the Top NCAA Division III Baseball Program of All-Time.

- Written December 1, 2011 -