Joe Legerski Explained

Joe Legerski
Birth Date:24 July 1957
Birth Place:Rock Springs, Wyoming
Alma Mater:University of Wyoming
Coach Years1:1979–1984
Coach Team1:Rock Springs HS (boys' asst.)
Coach Years2:1984–1986
Coach Team2:Rock Springs HS (girls')
Coach Team3:Western Wyoming CC
Coach Years3:1986–1987
Coach Years4:1987–1991
Coach Team4:Wyoming (asst.)
Coach Years5:1991–1998
Coach Team5:Utah (asst.)
Coach Years6:1998–2003
Coach Team6:Utah (assoc. HC)
Coach Years7:2003–2019
Coach Team7:Wyoming
Tournament Record:NCAA

0–1
WNIT: 16–7

Championships:WNIT (2007)
Awards:MWC Coach of the Year (2004, 2017, 2018)

Joseph Julius Legerski (born July 24, 1957)[1] is the retired former head women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming.

Coaching career

Legerski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business education from the University of Wyoming in 1979. After graduating from Wyoming, Legerski became a boys' varsity basketball assistant coach at Rock Springs High School, a position he would hold for five seasons. From 1984 to 1986, Legerski was the head women's basketball coach at Rock Springs High School. Following one season as head women's basketball coach at Western Wyoming Community College, Legerski was an assistant with the Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team from 1987 through 1991.

From 1992 to 2003, Legerski was assistant coach at the University of Utah under Elaine Elliott; he was associate head coach from 1998 to 2003. During his time as an assistant, Utah won three conference tournament championships between the Western Athletic Conference (1991 and 1995) and Mountain West Conference (2000).[2]

Named head coach at Wyoming on May 1, 2003, Legerski was the sixth head coach in team history and is the winningest coach in Wyoming history.[3] He led the Cowgirls to ten 20+ winning seasons, 8 appearances in the WNIT, and 1 appearance in the NCAA tournament. He also led the Cowgirls to the only postseason tournament championship in program history, the 2007 WNIT.[4]

During the 2018–2019 season Legerski won his 300th career game as the head coach of the Cowgirls.[5] He was the first coach in program history to reach 300 career wins. He also took the team to their first ever Mountain West Tournament Championship appearance in the 2018–2019 season.[6]

He won 3 Mountain West Conference coach of the year awards, in the 2003–04, 2016–17, and 2017–18 seasons.[7]

On April 24, 2019, Legerski announced that he would not be returning for the next season, as he planned to retire from coaching after 16 years.[7]

Personal life

Legerski is married and has three children, including stepson Zane Beadles, a former NFL offensive guard.

Notes and References

  1. News: Arambel . Dave . Joe Legerski Enters RSHS Hall of Fame as Winningest Coach in UW History . 23 December 2020 . SweetwaterNOW.com . 1 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Women's Basketball - University of Utah Athletics . UtahUtes.com . University of Utah . 23 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Kiggins. Steve. UW goes with Legerski as women's basketball coach. Casper Star Tribune. June 1, 2016. May 1, 2003.
  4. News: Wyoming's Legerski gets two-year extension . 20 October 2020 . ESPN.com . Associated Press . 24 March 2006.
  5. News: Settle . David . Cowgirls Hold Down Broncos, Give Legerski Win No. 300 [VIDEO] Read More: Cowgirls Hold Down Broncos, Give Legerski Win No. 300 [VIDEO] ]. 23 December 2020 . kowb1290.com . Townsquare Media . 26 January 2019.
  6. News: Potter . Davis . Despite loss, Wyoming eager to keep 'enjoying the ride' in postseason . 23 December 2020 . Casper Star Tribune . 14 March 2019.
  7. News: Potter . Davis . After four decades, it's 'the right time' to retire for Joe Legerski . 20 October 2020 . Casper Star Tribune . 26 April 2019.