FARMINGTON – A grassroots campaign to honor longtime University of Maine at Farmington and community soccer coach Robert Leib has met its initial goal of $50,000.
The “Campaign for Leib Field” was begun in June 2014 by a group of Leib’s former UMF players and community participants to honor the coach for his profound impact on the game, lovers of the sport and players of all ages.
“For nearly 40 years, Bob has mentored and inspired young athletes throughout the Farmington area,” said Kathryn A. Foster, UMF president. “This campaign is a way to honor him and say thank you for his years of dedication. Its success is a testament to the affection, appreciation and high regard so many people on campus and in the community have for him and for the difference he made in their lives.”
Funding will be used to improve the game experience for athletes, coaches and attendees on the UMF soccer game field. Team shelters, additional seating, a post-and-chain system around the playing field, a netting system beyond the endlines and an entrance plaza overlooking the field are improvements under consideration.
Volunteer co-chairs for the campaign are Farmington natives and former UMF athletes Seth Woodcock, Megan (Woodcock) Croteau and Stewart Durrell. Their efforts dovetailed with those of engaged alumni, community members and the UMF offices of Athletics and Development to reach their campaign goal successfully in less than a year.
The campaign goal was reached through benevolent lead gifts and commitments from the Beaver Alums Supporting Student Athletes organization and the University Credit Union. BASSA is a private alumni fundraising group that holds annual golf outings in support of UMF athletics. More than 100 additional alumni, friends and friend organizations generously contributed to the fund to honor Coach Leib.
“We have had generous support from a number of alumni and friends due in large part to the leadership of the volunteers to create this opportunity. It has been a pleasure to work with them to assure celebrating Coach’s legacy while at the same time investing in the future of the program,” said Julie Davis, UMF athletic director. “We feel we have achieved an important milestone in the campaign, but want everyone to know they are still welcome to be a part of honoring Coach Leib’s legacy.”
Leib coached UMF men’s soccer from 1977 to 2001 and UMF women’s soccer from 1996 to 2007. The men’s soccer teams tallied a program-best 15 wins in 1982 and again in 1996. The 1986 men’s soccer team and the 2002 women’s soccer team both advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. In 2007 in his final season coaching women’s soccer, UMF went undefeated through North Atlantic Conference play with a 9-0-1 mark.
Leib also guided the UMF baseball (1978-88, 1990-93) and softball (1994-2008) teams, including a North Atlantic Conference and NCAA Division III Softball tournament berth in 2005.
From 1978 to 2007, Leib ran a summer sports camp, including mainly soccer and some baseball and basketball, for youngsters in the Farmington and neighboring communities. It is estimated that during the nearly 30 years they were held more than 2,700 area children participated in the camps.
A field dedication will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015.
For more information about the Campaign for Leib Field, or if you would like to make a gift in honor of Coach Leib, please contact Seth A. Taylor, UMF interim director of development, at seth.taylor@maine.edu or 207-778-7058.
