Washington names Steve Duncan head coach
St. Louis, Mo. - Washington University in St. Louis director of athletics John Schael named Steve Duncan head coach of the Bears' baseball team. Duncan is the 12th baseball coach in program history. He replaces Ric Lessmann, who retired on May 25, after serving as head coach for 17 seasons.
Duncan arrives on the Danforth Campus after serving as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins University the past three seasons (2008-10). The Blue Jays posted an overall record of 114-31 (.786) during Duncan's stint, including three Centennial Conference championships, two regional titles and two trips to the NCAA Division III College World Series. In his three seasons at Johns Hopkins, Duncan worked with the pitchers, outfielders, first basemen, and catchers, as well as serving as the junior varsity head coach.
"We are delighted that Steve Duncan will be joining the Washington University community and the Bears' coaching family," said Schael. "Having served as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins University during the past three years, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the head coaching position for Bears baseball. He has a passion for teaching the game, is an excellent communicator, and has the ability to build on Washington University's baseball tradition."
Johns Hopkins posted a 44-7 record in 2010, and placed fifth at the World Series. Duncan helped mentor three All-Americans, including 2010 D3baseball.com National Player of the Year Dave Kahn. The Blue Jays posted a 42-8 record and a second-place finish at the World Series in his first season, and a 28-16 mark with a South Region runner-up finish in 2009.
Prior to his stint with Johns Hopkins, Duncan served as an assistant baseball coach at Biola University in 2004, working under head coach and former major leaguer John Verhoeven. The Eagles posted a 34-13 overall record, and won the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season championship, and earned a regional playoff berth. He has also volunteered the past five seasons as a little league coach in Baltimore's Roland Park Little League.
"I am thrilled to join the Washington University family and work along side the other great coaches in the department. I am truly grateful for John Schael having confidence in me to lead the baseball program," said Duncan. "Coach Lessmann did a great job continuing the Washington University baseball tradition, and I look forward to taking it to the next level.
"I feel fortunate to have been mentored by two great coaches -- John Verhoeven at Biola and Robert Babb at Johns Hopkins," Duncan added. "The past three years coach Babb has helped prepare me to be a head coach and I will always be grateful to him and the rest of the Johns Hopkins baseball family."
Duncan was a four-year starter as a first baseman and pitcher for Wheaton College (Ill.), and earned first team all-conference honors in 2002. He was also an academic all-district selection in 2002. Duncan graduated with a bachelor's degree in business and economics from Wheaton in 2002, and went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Biola in 2004.
Following graduate school, Duncan worked for Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor in Baltimore, Md., from 2005-07, and in sales at Drive Financial from 2007-08.
The Washington University baseball team posted a 17-15 record in 2010, and compiled its 12th-straight winning season. The Bears have an overall record of 1,124-880-9 (.561) in 65 seasons as a varsity program.
