Tyler Leichtenberger enters his second year as a part-time assistant coach for the Tigers, after spending seven years as a volunteer assistant and a year as a graduate assistant following a standout career on the mound for the Tigers from 2011-14. As a player and a coach, Leichtenberger has been at the forefront of RIT’s rise to prominence since moving to the Liberty League in 2012.
Â
Under Leichtenberger’s guidance, the 2017 Tigers won a school-record 33 games, won its first Liberty League Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship for the first time. RIT set single-season program records for highest winning percentage (.785), highest fielding percentage (.973), runs scored (317), hits (432), doubles (105), home runs (23), runs batted in (287), total bases (642), slugging percentage (.452), and walks (191). The pitching staff re-wrote the school record book with the most strikeouts (319), shutouts (4), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.22), and lowest WHIP (1.19).
Â
RIT advanced to the 2018 Liberty League Championship Tournament for the third time in four seasons and won 20 games.
Â
Leichtenberger pitched in various roles on the staff during his four years as a starter and a reliever. A two-time All-Liberty League selection, he holds school records for both saves in a season (7) and career (14), and is fifth all-time in appearances (49).
Upon finishing his playing days, Leichtenberger started his coaching career by joining the RIT staff as a graduate assistant in 2015, while also managing his hometown legion team from 2013-15. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in May 2015, Leichtenberger continued his role on the RIT staff as an assistant coach.
Originally from Warren, Pa., Leichtenberger is employed an engineer at Rochester Gas & Electric and resides in nearby Brighton.
Â
