This bio is now a part of a historical archive, the individual was on the staff from 2001-2019 and is no longer employed by Wilkes University.
Chris Leicht enters his 17th year at Wilkes University in 2018-19, coaching the men's tennis team for sixteen seasons and the women's tennis team for fifteen. During that time, he has amassed a combined record of 492-109 (.818 winning percentage), leading the women's squad to twelve straight Freedom Conference crowns while the men have won eleven in-a-row.
Each of those conference titles have given the programs an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Last season the Wilkes men reached the second round of the NCAA Championships after defeating Colby-Sawyer College in the first round.
In 2016-17, the Wilkes men finished with a school-record 23 wins while the women collected a program-best 24 victories on way to conference titles.
In 2012-13, Leicht led the women's team to a 19-3 record and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after posting a 5-0 victory over Mount Saint Mary College in the first round. The team only lost two games in the entire Freedom regular season going a perfect 6-0 on the year.
For the men in 2012-13, Leicht mentored the Colonels to a 16-4 overall mark going 6-0 in Freedom matches. Wilkes advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history following a 5-2 victory over Grove City College.
In 2011-12, Leicht led the women's team to a 19-1 record, suffering its only loss of the season in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Lady Colonels rose to its highest regional ranking in school history standing #7 in the final Atlantic South poll. Wilkes cruised through the regular season not allowing a point in nine of the 19 victories including 5-0 wins in the semifinals and final of the Freedom tournament.
For the men in 2011-12, Leicht guided the men to a 14-4 overall record, advancing to the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Wilkes remained undefeated in conference play, allowing just three points during the five wins.
In 2010-11, Leicht led the women's squad to a 16-2 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Amazingly, the Lady Colonels did not give up a point in conference play all season, winning all five matches by 9-0 scores, while also winning both conference tournament matches by shutout (6-0 and 5-0). They went on to post a dramatic come-from-behind 5-3 win over Ithaca in the first round of the NCAAs, before eventually falling to Washington & Lee, the eighth-ranked team in the nation.
For the men in 2010-11, Leicht guided the Colonels to an 11-4 overall record, advancing to the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Wilkes went undefeated in conference play, surrendering just two points to Freedom opponents during the regular season and one during the tournament. They eventually lost to Ohio Northern in the NCAAs.
During his time as the men's coach, Leicht has coached 60 all-conference selections, including six rookies of the year (Cesar Leon, 2009-10; Keith Kopelcheck, 2003-04; Steven Wilson, 2011-12; Michael Kranz, 2012-13; Dominic Parfianowicz, 2013-14; Courtney Murphy, 2015-16) and six Player of the Years (Steven Wilson, 2012-13/2013-14; Max Appello, 2014-15; Courtney Murphy, 2015-16/2016-17/2017-18).
He's also had 47 singles champions at the Middle Atlantic Conference individual tournament, while 28 doubles pairings have taken home the title. And he's won 10 conference coach of the year awards, after the 2003-04, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 seasons.
As the coach of the women's squad, Leicht has a 243-46 overall dual match record since the 2003 season, scoring at least 12 victories in each of his last thirteen seasons. He hasn't won less than 16 in a year since 2006-07, the first of back-to-back 18-win seasons.
Leicht has coached 59 All-Freedom performers since 2003, placing at least four on the first or second teams in each of the past eight years. He's also had five conference rookies of the year, 10 players of the year, has won 10 coach of the year awards, and has 53 individual and 30 doubles titles at the MAC championships.
A student-athlete included in those awards was Melanie Nolt, who in her four-year career on campus (2009-13) had two No. 1 singles titles; two doubles championships; named Freedom Conference player of the year four times; had an overall singles record of 60-15 and a doubles mark of 61-21.
Leicht has also led his team to many academic awards. His tennis teams have been named ITA All-American Academic teams fifteen times and several individuals have been All-American academic achievers.
Prior to arriving at Wilkes Chris spent three seasons as the head boy's coach at his alma mater, Danville Area High School. During his stint at Danville, Chris compiled a career record of 57-4. His teams won both the League and District IV titles in his final two years. During both seasons Danville advanced to the state semifinals before falling by identical 3-2 scores.
He is a 2000 graduate of Bloomsburg University, earning a degree in Business Administration. He also earned his Masters in Business Administration at Bloomsburg University. Leicht also serves as the Director of the McHale Athletic Center at Wilkes University.
