NCAA men

LeBlanc takes WVU reins 16 days before start of season.

Marlon LeBlanc arrived in Morgantown with slightly more than two weeks to get West Virginia ready for its men's soccer season. -- West Virginia University web site photos --

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Thursday, August 10, 2006) -- Sixteen days before the 2006 NCAA Division I season starts, West Virginia named Marlon LeBlanc as its new men's coach.

The hiring of LeBlanc yesterday came late because last month the university fired coach Mike Seabolt following the revelation of potential NCAA violations. Late in July, Seabolt filed suit to regain his job, claiming he was relieved of his position after informing his superiors of problems in WVU's compliance department.

Seabolt led the Mountaineers to a 30-25-6 (.541) record in his three years, including 13-8-2 and advancement into the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.

LeBlanc, who had been serving as a Penn State men's assistant, made the 180-mile drive from State College, Pa., to Morgantown to direct his first Mountaineers practice last night.

"I've got about six month's of work to do in two weeks," LeBlanc told the WVU web site. "I'm getting down there in time for practice and I really want to watch the kids a little bit and evaluate. Then I'll meet with the staff and meet with some of the core players and get a plan of action and a directive. I will be watching a heck of a lot of video in the next 24-48 hours."

LeBlanc, a 2000 PSU graduate in economics and former player, spent five seasons as an assistant to Barry Gorman with the Nittany Lions compiling a 58-31-12 (.634) mark, winning two Big Ten championships and advancing to four NCAA tournaments in that period.

Marlon LeBlanc was among nearly 100 applicants for arrived in Morgantown with 16 days to get West Virginia ready for its men's soccer season.

Penn State "has a great program and the time I've been with them, they've done very well, but West Virginia just excites me so much," LeBlanc said. "Penn State is all in the past and I'm looking forward to getting down there and working with the guys."

LeBlanc was among nearly 100 applicants for the job with five interviewed on campus.

Citing privacy laws protecting its players and personnel, WVU officials have not been specific about what potential violations it reported to the NCAA. WVU director of athletics Ed Pastilong told the Associated Press he relieved Seabolt of his duties "in the best interest" of his department.

Two weeks ago, Seabolt's attorney Mike Florio told AP, "They paid (Seabolt) through June 2007. He has not cashed that check and he will not cash that check. . . He wants to work for that money."

Last Thursday, lawyers for WVU argued that Seabolt tried to deceive NCAA investigators and urged players to lie, AP reported. In Monongalia County Circuit Court, university attorney Larry J. Rector told Judge Russell Clawges Seabolt's actions were "tantamount to witness tampering and obstruction of justice."

Despite his long allegiance with Penn State, LeBlanc did not think he would have trouble of changing his wardrobe from blue and white to blue and gold. "I've got the blue already. It's just the other color I've got to get changed," he said.

Do you have a comment on this story or something to say about soccer in general? Send us a letter.