Marlon LeBlanc
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Marlon LeBlanc (born in East Windsor Township, New Jersey) is a men's soccer head coach for the West Virginia University Mountaineers soccer team.
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[edit] Early life
LeBlanc began his soccer career at Hightstown High School, where he was a four-year starter and received all-state honors among others. In addition to being named the New Jersey ODP team captain, his club side Jersey Shore Boca captured the Under 17 New Jersey State Club Championship.
LeBlanc graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in economics in 2000.
[edit] Coaching career
[edit] Penn State
After graduating from Penn State in 2000, LeBlanc served as the team's first assistant coach from 2001 to 2005. He was also the recruiting coordinator, assistant director for soccer camps, and video coordinator.
In his first season, 2001, LeBlanc helped the Lions to the round of 16 in the NCAA tourney. The following season, 2002, the Lions advanced to the round of 8 in the tourney and also a Big Ten Conference Championship while LeBlanc posted a 4-3 record as the interim head coach in the midst of the season. They ended the season ranked #8 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Also that year, LeBlanc's recruiting class was ranked as high as #6 by Soccer America.
In 2004, LeBlanc's recruiting efforts helped him recruit the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and another Freshman All-American player. The following year, the Tigers won the Big Ten title with an 8-0 record and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tourney. The 2005 team finished the year ranked #10 by the NSCAA.
In his tenure at Penn State, LeBlanc's record as an assistant was 62-34-12, including the 4-3 record as interim head coach in 2002. He was also up for consideration for the 2002 AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year, and was considered one of the best collegiate assistants and recruiters.
[edit] West Virginia
[edit] 2006
Marlon LeBlanc left Penn State for West Virginia University for the 2006 collegiate season. LeBlanc immediately achieved new heights in the program, ending his debut season as a head coach with a 15-3-3 record and a perfect 8-0-1 record in the Big East Conference. The team's conference record marked the first time ever in Big East history in at least a 10-game schedule and the 15 overall wins was the most ever in school history. WVU spent an overall eight weeks in the Top 10 and five in the Top 5 nationally, ranking as high as #3 in the nation. He also coached Nick Noble and Jarrod Smith, who were the first multiple All-American selections in school history and both were drafted into the MLS. Including Noble and Smith, LeBlanc placed three players onto the Big East all-conference team while Noble was the Big East Goalkeeper of the Year,
After the season, LeBlanc was named the 2006 Soccer America National Coach of the Year, was included in the 2006 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year, and the NSCAA/Adidas Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year.
[edit] 2007
Following his debut success, LeBlanc and the Mountaineers posted a 14-6-2 record in the second season under LeBlanc. The team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. The team finished the season ranked #13 in the final NSCAA/Adidas rankings, after spending the entire season in the Top 25 and being ranked as high as #5. Midfielder Andy Wright was named an All-American selection, being LeBlanc's third in two seasons.
Under LeBlanc, the Mountaineers went 3-1 against Top 10 competition, including victories over #1 Connecticut, #5 Duke, and #6 Maryland in OT. In the victory over Connecticut, 1,773 fans were in attendance for the upset, the second-largest amount in school history. The team also tied a 1969 school record of fewest goals allowed with 11 and set a school record with 14 shutouts. Senior midfielder Dan Stratford set a school record with 27 career assists.
