Julie LeMaire begins her fifth season as head coach of the Hornets. The Hornets continue to be one of the most successful Division II teams in the country over the last decade. In 2014, LeMaire led the Hornets to a 49-14 record, winning their eighth MIAA regular season championship and made their MIAA record eleventh straight trip to the NCAA Division II Regional. The success of the 2014 squad made her the second winningest coach in ESU history in winning percentage (.741). Eight Hornets were named to the 2014 All-MIAA Teams and LeMaire was named MIAA Coach of the Year for the second time in her three years at Emporia State. The Hornets led the nation in double plays with 42, ranking second all-time in Division II, while Junior Pitcher Kaitlyn Caston led the nation in wins with an Emporia State record 36 victories for the season.
LeMaire made MIAA history in her first season at Emporia State in 2012 as she led the Hornets to a perfect 20-0 record in MIAA play and won the MIAA Conference Tournament on the way to a 42-11 season record. It was the first time a team had gone undefeated through a complete round robin schedule. The Hornets had 10 players named to the All-MIAA Teams, in addition to Stephanie Goodwin being named MIAA Freshman of the Year and LeMaire receiving MIAA Coach of the Year honors.
In June of 2011, LeMaire was named the ninth head coach in Emporia State history, she became just the second coach to win the MIAA regular season and tournament championships in her first season. She led a team with just one senior to the NCAA South Central Regional2 Championship game in her first season. From 2009-2011, LeMaire spent three seasons as head coach at Fort Hays State University and took the Tigers to the MIAA Tournament Championship game in her final season. She went 92-76 (.548) in her three seasons in Hays with a 61-43 (.587) mark the past two seasons. She left FHSU as the second winningest coach in their history in both total wins and winning percentage, she is the only Tiger coach to put together three straight 30 win seasons.
“Coach LeMaire has a proven track record on the Division II level and within the MIAA,” said Weiser. “Her recruiting connections and on-field coaching will continue to keep ESU softball competitive at a national level.”
Offensively, the Tigers set school records for team runs scored, RBI, hits, home runs and slugging percentage, while in the circle FHSU has set records for most strikeouts, most strikeouts per 7.0 innings pitched and most shutouts during her tenure. The Tigers also set school records for the fewest errors and most double plays turned in a season under LeMaire’s leadership.
LeMaire began her professional career at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where she served as assistant coach for two years. She worked primarily with the pitching staff, outfielders and hitting. Under her guidance the team ERA dropped 3.14 runs over her two seasons.
Prior to her stint at Lynn, LeMaire served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of North Dakota. With the Fighting Sioux, LeMaire worked with the development of the pitchers, outfielders, and hitters, while assisting in recruiting, budget management and fundraising. She also taught physical education courses while working towards the completion of a master’s degree.
LeMaire earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region and All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors at Quincy (Ill.) University. She set both the QU single season and career records for home runs and hits as a senior and won 29 games in the circle. She was the recipient of Quincy’s Brother Clete Van Ackeren Award for Academic and Athletic Achievement in 2004.
A native of Basco, Ill., LeMaire earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Quincy in 2004 and earned a master’s degree in Kinesiology from the North Dakota in 2007.
THE LeMAIRE FILE
Coaching Career
2012-Present Emporia State Head Coach
2015 35-20
2014 49-14
2013 38-20
2012 42-11
Total 164-65 (.716) (Four Years)
2009-11 Ft. Hays State Head Coach
2011 30-22
2010 31-21
2009 31-33
Total 92-76 (.548) (Three Years)
Head coaching total 256-141 (.644) (SevenYears)
2007-08 Lynn University Asst. Coach
2005-06 University of North Dakota Grad. Asst. Coach
Collegiate Playing Career
2001-04 Quincy University
All-GLVC
NFCA All-Great Lakes Region
Education
BS Quincy 2004
MS North Dakota 2007
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