MONROE - One record-setting coach for Monroe High School is taking over for one of the top all-time top softball coaches in the history of Wisconsin.
Joe O'Leksy was named the Monroe High School softball coach Monday. Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer made the announcement in a news release.
O'Leksy has coached the Monroe junior varsity softball team for 21 years. O'Leksy has the most wins in the history of the state as a JV coach, posting a 338-75 mark the past two decades. He has led his teams to 13 conference championships in the past 15 years.
O'Leksy has been a softball coach on former head coach Dale Buvid's staff for more than two decades. Buvid, a Wisconsin Softball Coaches Hall of Famer, who is the third all-time winningest coach in the history of Wisconsin with 505 career wins, retired in June after coaching for 33 years. He guided the Cheesemakers to seven state tournament appearances, one state championship in 2003, four state runner-up finishes and 11 Badger South Conference titles.
"I learned a lot from Coach Buvid," O'Leksy said. "He's one of the best coaches in the state. It will be nice to get the opportunity to coach the varsity. I will be more directly involved."
O'Leksy's experience and success as a JV coach stood out to Newcomer.
"I am excited for Coach O'Leksy, he has had phenomenal success at the junior varsity level and we believe it will carryover to the varsity level next year," Newcomer said in a news release. "He knows a lot about the game, players will learn a lot and improve as softball players under Coach O'Leksy."
O'Leksy has coached youth softball teams and coached the Lightning, a traveling softball club based out of Monroe for eight years.
"I have worked with the youth softball programs in town and the club teams," he said. "I think those softball connections helped me get the job."
The Monroe JV softball team compiled a 22-4 record last year and went unbeaten in the Badger South to win the conference.
"I think with the varsity group we have coming back they have been playing for two to three years, and they are talented," he said. "We set a school record with 22 wins on the JV team last year. We have four or five of those players who will contribute significantly. I think we will be in the top three in the conference. Even though they are young I think we could contend for a conference championship as fast as next year."
O'Leksy plans to continue the Florida trips the Cheesemakers take every other year to play games at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex.
"I would like to continue the Florida trips as long as we have funds available," he said of the fundraising effort the softball team spearheads every other year to pay for the trip.
Joe O'Leksy was named the Monroe High School softball coach Monday. Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer made the announcement in a news release.
O'Leksy has coached the Monroe junior varsity softball team for 21 years. O'Leksy has the most wins in the history of the state as a JV coach, posting a 338-75 mark the past two decades. He has led his teams to 13 conference championships in the past 15 years.
O'Leksy has been a softball coach on former head coach Dale Buvid's staff for more than two decades. Buvid, a Wisconsin Softball Coaches Hall of Famer, who is the third all-time winningest coach in the history of Wisconsin with 505 career wins, retired in June after coaching for 33 years. He guided the Cheesemakers to seven state tournament appearances, one state championship in 2003, four state runner-up finishes and 11 Badger South Conference titles.
"I learned a lot from Coach Buvid," O'Leksy said. "He's one of the best coaches in the state. It will be nice to get the opportunity to coach the varsity. I will be more directly involved."
O'Leksy's experience and success as a JV coach stood out to Newcomer.
"I am excited for Coach O'Leksy, he has had phenomenal success at the junior varsity level and we believe it will carryover to the varsity level next year," Newcomer said in a news release. "He knows a lot about the game, players will learn a lot and improve as softball players under Coach O'Leksy."
O'Leksy has coached youth softball teams and coached the Lightning, a traveling softball club based out of Monroe for eight years.
"I have worked with the youth softball programs in town and the club teams," he said. "I think those softball connections helped me get the job."
The Monroe JV softball team compiled a 22-4 record last year and went unbeaten in the Badger South to win the conference.
"I think with the varsity group we have coming back they have been playing for two to three years, and they are talented," he said. "We set a school record with 22 wins on the JV team last year. We have four or five of those players who will contribute significantly. I think we will be in the top three in the conference. Even though they are young I think we could contend for a conference championship as fast as next year."
O'Leksy plans to continue the Florida trips the Cheesemakers take every other year to play games at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex.
"I would like to continue the Florida trips as long as we have funds available," he said of the fundraising effort the softball team spearheads every other year to pay for the trip.
