Monte Lee

Last updated
Monte Lee
Monte Lee (cropped).jpg
Monte Lee at Clemson
Current position
TitleAssociate head coach
Recruiting coordinator
Team South Carolina
Conference SEC
Biographical details
Born (1977-02-09) February 9, 1977 (age 46)
Lugoff, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater College of Charleston
Playing career
1996–1999 College of Charleston
Position(s) OF
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2002 Spartanburg Methodist (asst.)
2003–2008 South Carolina (asst.)
2009–2015 College of Charleston
2016–2022 Clemson
2023–presentSouth Carolina (AHC/RC)
Head coaching record
Overall518–281
TournamentsNCAA: 12–10
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Regional: 2014
CAA: 2015
CAA Tournament: 2014
SoCon: 2012
ACC Tournament: 2016

Monte Wesley Lee (born February 9, 1977) is an American baseball coach, who is the current associate head baseball coach and recruiting coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He played college baseball for the Charleston Cougars from 1996 to 1999. He then served as the head coach of the College of Charleston Cougars (2009–2015) and the Clemson Tigers (2016–2022).

Contents

Under Lee, the Cougars reached four NCAA tournaments, including one NCAA Super Regional. [1]

Playing career

Lee played four seasons of baseball (1996–1999) at College of Charleston. An outfielder, Lee was a career .333 hitter and had 22 home runs. He became the program's fifth major-league draftee when he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals following his senior year and played two seasons of minor league baseball, advancing as high as Single-A. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Coaching career

Lee began his coaching career with a two-year stint (2001–2002) as an assistant at Spartanburg Methodist, a junior college located in his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina. During Lee's tenure, the program reached an NJCAA Division I World Series and set a single-season win record. Lee then spent six seasons (2003–2008) as an assistant at South Carolina. The Gamecocks qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of Lee's six seasons and also appeared in two College World Series. [1] [5]

College of Charleston

Lee was hired as the head coach at College of Charleston prior to the start of the 2009 season. [6] In Lee's second season, the Cougars broke the 40-win mark and appeared in their first NCAA tournament in his tenure. At the Myrtle Beach Regional, the Cougars advanced to the regional final with wins over third-seeded NC State and first-seeded Coastal Carolina, but were eliminated with consecutive defeats by Coastal in the championship round. In 2012, the team shared the Southern Conference regular season title and advanced to another NCAA tournament, where it went 1–2. In 2014, Charleston won the conference tournament in their first season in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Cougars then won the Gainesville Regional with a 3–0 record, defeating host Florida and Long Beach State twice. In the Lubbock Super Regional, the Cougars were defeated by Texas Tech in consecutive 1–0 games. In 2015 season, the Cougars won the CAA regular season crown with a 21–3 record, before falling to the UNCW Seahawks in the CAA Championship game. Charleston was selected as a #2 seed in Florida State's Tallahassee Regional, where they went 2–2, finishing second behind the host Seminoles. [7] [8] [9] [10]

In Lee's seven seasons at Charleston, 21 players were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Pitcher Heath Hembree was taken in the 5th round by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 and reached the major leagues in 2013. A total of six Cougars were taken in that draft, the highest total of Lee's tenure. In his final season at Charleston, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected pitcher Taylor Clarke in the third round, making him the program's highest ever selection. [11] [12] [13]

Clemson

On June 18, 2015, Clemson hired Lee to be their 28th head coach in program history; Lee became only the third head coach at Clemson since 1958 (taking over a program that ranked 8th all-time in Division I wins at the time of his hire). [14]

Monte Lee guided the 2016 Tigers to an ACC baseball tournament title in his first season, defeating the defending ACC Champion Florida State Seminoles in a marathon game by a score of 18–13 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The win produced the program's first conference title in ten years and Lee's first Clemson team captured the program's 10th conference tournament title and 15th overall ACC championship - both league records. Lee also became the third consecutive Clemson head coach to win the ACC in his first season, joining Bill Wilhelm (1958) and Jack Leggett (1994). The Tigers' 44 victories in 2016 are the second-most victories by a first-year head coach in Clemson history. A strong finish to the season propelled the Tigers to their 41st appearance and the #7 overall national seed to the NCAA tournament. [15]

In 2022, Lee earned his 500th career victory. The Tigers defeated College of Charleston on March 29 to give Lee the victory. [16] At the end of the season Lee was fired as head coach after failing to make the NCAA tournament. It was the second consecutive season that Clemson did not qualify for the tournament. [17]

Return to South Carolina

On August 18, 2022, Lee returned to South Carolina as the team's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. [18]

Head coaching record

The following is a table of Lee's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach. [10] [19]

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
College of Charleston (Southern Conference)(2009–2013)
2009 College of Charleston 35–2217–135th
2010 College of Charleston 44–1922–82nd NCAA Regional
2011 College of Charleston 39–2218–12T–3rd
2012 College of Charleston 38–2221–9T–1st NCAA Regional
2013 College of Charleston 31–2618–11T–2nd
College of Charleston:96–53 (.644)
College of Charleston (Colonial Athletic Association)(2014–2015)
2014 College of Charleston 44–1915–62nd NCAA Super Regional
2015 College of Charleston 45–1521–31st NCAA Regional
College of Charleston:276–145 (.656)36–9 (.800)
Clemson (Atlantic Coast Conference)(2016–2022)
2016 Clemson 44–2016–144th (Atlantic) NCAA Regional
2017 Clemson 42–2117–133rd (Atlantic) NCAA Regional
2018 Clemson 47–1622–81st (Atlantic) NCAA Regional
2019 Clemson 35–2615–154th (Atlantic) NCAA Regional
2020 Clemson 14–33–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Clemson 25–2716–205th (Atlantic)
2022 Clemson 35–2313–166th (Atlantic)
Clemson:242–136 (.640)102–86 (.543)
Total:518–281 (.648)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank McGuire</span> American basketball coach (1913–94)

Frank Joseph McGuire was an American basketball coach. At the collegiate level, he was head coach for three major programs: St. John's, North Carolina, and South Carolina, winning over a hundred games at each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Gamecocks</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemson Tigers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Clemson University

The Clemson Tigers are the athletic teams that represent Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level, primarily competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for all sports since the 1953–54 season. Clemson competes for and has won multiple NCAA Division I national championships in various sports, including ACC football, men's soccer, and men's golf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemson Tigers baseball</span> Division 1 college baseball team

The Clemson Tigers baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Erik Bakich and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The program has reached the NCAA tournament in all but three seasons dating back to 1987. Clemson has made 12 appearances in the College World Series with an all-time record of 12–24 in Omaha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Gamecocks baseball</span> Baseball team of the University of South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has perennially been one of the best teams in college baseball since 1970, posting 34 NCAA tournament appearances, 11 College World Series berths, 6 CWS Finals appearances and 2 National Championships: 2010 and 2011. Carolina is one of six schools in NCAA history to win back-to-back titles. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the team has competed in the Eastern division. South Carolina owns a stellar 32-20 record at the CWS, holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins (22) in the national tournament and the longest win streak ever at the CWS in which the Gamecocks played for national titles all three years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Cougars</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of College of Charleston

The Charleston Cougars are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams representing the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The Cougars compete in NCAA Division I and are currently members of the Colonial Athletic Association. The university sponsors 20 varsity sports teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis; women's-only dance team, equestrian, beach volleyball, softball, track and field and volleyball; men's-only baseball; and co-ed sailing and cheerleading. The university's most successful sports are co-ed sailing, which has won 14 national championships since 1986, women's volleyball, which has qualified for the NCAA Tournament seven times since 2002 and men's baseball, which has qualified for the NCAA Tournament seven times since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2009 Clemson Tigers baseball team represented Clemson University in the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The team played their home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, SC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2010 Clemson Tigers baseball team represented Clemson University in the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The team played their home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team</span>

The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gamecocks played their home games in Carolina Stadium. The team was coached by Ray Tanner, who was in his fourteenth season at Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in South Carolina</span>

Although there are no major league professional franchises based in South Carolina, the state does have numerous minor league teams. The Carolina Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes major league pro teams representing both North Carolina and South Carolina, are based in neighboring North Carolina. The Carolina Panthers, the professional American football team of the National Football League based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has training facilities in Rock Hill, South Carolina. College teams throughout the state represent their particular South Carolina institution, along with the state being a prime destination for golf and water sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Cougars baseball</span>

The Charleston Cougars baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The team is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The Cougars are currently coached by Chad Holbrook, who was previously the head coach at the University of South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Wilhelm</span> American baseball player and coach

Billy Wilhelm was an American college baseball coach who was the head coach of the Clemson Tigers from 1958 to 1993. In his 36 seasons as head coach, Wilhelm had a record of 1,161–536–10. Before coming to Clemson, Wilhelm played several seasons of minor league baseball and served one season as an assistant baseball coach at North Carolina.

Chad Holbrook is an American baseball coach, who is the current head baseball coach of the College of Charleston Cougars. Prior to becoming head coach for the Cougars, Holbrook was head coach at the University of South Carolina, and an assistant for both the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina.

James Michael Andrew Toman is an American college baseball coach and former player. He had been head coach of Liberty from the 2008 season until 2016. Under Toman, Liberty has qualified for two NCAA tournaments. He also served as the head coach of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2019–2022).

The 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2015. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and 2015 College World Series. The College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA tournament and held annually in Omaha, Nebraska, at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, ended on June 24, 2015, with the final game of the best-of-three championship series between Vanderbilt and Virginia, won by Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemson Tigers softball</span>

Clemson Tigers softball joined the Atlantic Coast Conference as a Division I varsity program in 2020. In November 2017, former Stanford coach John Rittman was named as Clemson's first head softball coach. Rittman spent the previous two years as an assistant coach at Kansas and USA Softball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2020 Clemson Tigers baseball team were the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2020 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by fifth-year head coach Monte Lee. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2021 Clemson Tigers baseball team are the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by sixth-year head coach Monte Lee. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2022 Clemson Tigers baseball team were the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2022 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by seventh-year head coach Monte Lee. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Clemson Tigers baseball team</span>

The 2023 Clemson Tigers baseball team were the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by first-year head coach Erik Bakich. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Monte Lee". CofCSports.com. College of Charleston Athletics Communications. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Transactions". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. June 6, 2000. p. 6C. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Monte Lee". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ Lananna, Michael. "Clemson Hires Monte Lee as Head Coach". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ Strelow, Paul (June 11, 2003). "Extra Work Pays Off for Lee, USC". The Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. p. B1. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ Yanity, Pete (July 7, 2008). "USC, Clemson Hire Coaches". WSPA.com. CBS 7 WSPA. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ Stires, Sean. "Myrtle Beach Super Regional". CollegeBaseball360.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ Sapakoff, Gene (June 1, 2014). "Sapakoff: Gamecocks Agony, College of Charleston Joy and Clemson". PostAndCourier.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ Lockman, Tyler (June 17, 2014). "Interviews for ASU Baseball Coach Underway". FoxSports.com. FOX Sports Arizona. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "2014 Southern Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF). SoConSports.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks Who Came from "College of Charleston"". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Former CofC Pitcher Heath Hembree Called Up to MLB Giants". ABCNews4.com. College of Charleston Athletics Communications. September 3, 2013. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. ↑ Schulman, Henry (September 3, 2013). "SF Giants' Gary Brown 'Not Far Away' Plus Notes on Hembree, Runzler" (blog). San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ "2016 NCAA Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). NCAA.org. NCAA.
  15. ↑ "Clemson Claims ACC Baseball Championship | ACC News". TheACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  16. ↑ Robertson, Justin (March 29, 2022). "Clemson's Monte Lee earns five hundredth career victory". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  17. ↑ Aaro, David (May 31, 2022). "Monte Lee out as Clemson head baseball coach after seven seasons". foxnews.com. Fox News . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ "South Carolina Gamecocks baseball adds former Clemson Tigers coach Monte Lee to staff". www.espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ "2014 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Standings". D1Baseball.com. Jeremy and Cynthia Mills. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.