Coaching Third: The Keith LeClair Story

by Bethany Bradsher, Bethany Bradley

He set out to become a coach who accumulated wins, a coach who inspired a team all the way to college baseball's Holy Grail -- the College World Series in Omaha. As it turned out, Keith LeClair's dreams were too small. When the diagnosis of a fatal disease threw his coaching career a heartrending curveball, LeClair found himself on a different path. This new journey had less to do with coaching glory than with eternal perspective, and as LeClair's body deteriorated, his faith in God shone brighter than the competitive fire that had landed him his first head coaching job at the age of 25. Through years of debilitating illness, he transformed lives in college athletics and beyond with his extraordinary wisdom, grace, and courage. This is his story.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Carlos Verde · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am not the most Christian of men, I found this book on Keith Leclair’s story — specifically his ‘coaching’ and ‘people’ trees, and all the good he enabled to spread around the world — truly inspiring.

Cried at multiple points. Laughed at others.

Well done to author on telling this story with compassion and never losing of Keith’s late-stage goal: Spreading the love of Jesus.

[Kyle Beacom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming story that reminds this baseball coach what the profession is all about. LeClair's story epitomizes what it means to be a transformational coach, a coach that focuses on the person not the player. I have read it twice and certainly there will be a third and fourth reading.

[Karen Cartlidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspirational book !!!!! Loved his devotionals at the end of the book !

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe that I forgot to rate this book. I put a review on Amazon, but need to share here as well. Very touching and inspirational true story. Bethany does a fabulous job of developing the the characters to the point that I felt like I knew them. Coach LeClair is quite the inspiration for all of us. He turned his tragic diagnosis of ALS into a new way to look at one's life. The devotions at the end written by Coach LeClair himself was an extra bonus.

[Kit Sublett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was the editor of this book and I am really proud of it. Keith LeClair's story is really inspiring. I'm not a sports fan, but I am a Christian, and as a result I found it to be a really good read.