The East Carolina baseball team has officially kicked off Mustache March.
It’s the chance to raise money in the fight against ALS and to honor former head coach Keith LeClair, who died of the disease. Money is raised for ALS Research and the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, recognized for the Major League Baseball player from Hertford, N.C. who also died of ALS.
Below is full information from ECU Sports Information.
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Photo credit: Mustache March (ECU Sports Information illustration)
With the new month in full swing, the East Carolina baseball team (players, coaching staff and support staff) will once again participate in Mustache March to raise money and awareness for ALS Research and the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter. For the third-straight year, the Pirates will join with the Pitt Community College and Clemson baseball teams to help fight and strikeout ALS with a goal of raising $15,000.
CLICK HERE to learn more about former ECU coach Keith LeClair and the LeClair Classic
As most of Pirate Nation is aware, the baseball program has been greatly affected by ALS as former head coach and ECU Hall of Fame member Keith LeClair was diagnosed with the disease while coaching in 2001. The Pirates continue to follow the mission, vision and characteristics that made Coach LeClair such a tremendous leader, father, friend and coach.
Current PCC Head Coach Tommy Eason coached under LeClair from 1998-2005, Clemson Head Coach Erik Bakich and Assistant Head Coach Nick Schnabel both played for LeClair and were teammates of ECU skipper Cliff Godwin from 1999-2000.
Starting Saturday, March 1, and running through the end of the month, the Pirates will grow mustaches to continue raising money for ALS research. Since 2016, the team has raised over $75,000. With additional support from ECU Dowdy Student Stores, the sum has reached upwards of $100,000 in total donations.
LeClair, who was named the 13th head baseball coach at ECU in July of 1997, was passionate and determined in setting the ultimate goal for the Pirates to reach Omaha, the site of the NCAA College World Series, and win a national championship.
He became the second-winningest coach in program history (currently fourth) in just five seasons at ECU, compiling a 212-96-1 (.688) record. LeClair, a 2002 ECU Hall of Fame inductee, led the Pirates to four-straight NCAA Regional appearances, three Colonial Athletic Association championships and one Conference USA title.
LeClair passed away at the age of 40 on July 17, 2006, after a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He officially relinquished his coaching duties in June 2002, two weeks after leading the Pirates to their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance before finishing with a 43-20-1 record. LeClair remained with the ECU Department of Athletics as a special assistant to the director of athletics until the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn, and two children, Audrey and J.D.