Stetson University men’s soccer head coach T. Logan Fleck passed away over the weekend. He was 54.

Fleck, who was set to begin his eighth season with the Hatters, is survived by his mother, Carol Fleck; sister, Mary Beth Fleck; stepmother, Jan Fleck, and niece, Braden.

“Logan Fleck will be missed,” said Stetson Director of Athletics Jeff Altier. “He was a wonderfully caring person, committed to family, friends and student athletes. Logan was passionate about the game of soccer and dedicated himself to advancing the game in college athletics. Logan was a person of high integrity and always demonstrated this integrity in the way he coached the game. Coach Fleck and his hallmark sense of humor will be missed by the DeLand community.”

Fleck also coached at USF (men’s and women’s) and Arkansas-Little Rock, amassing 214 career victories in 25 seasons as a head coach. He was 59-47-18 in seven seasons at Stetson, 97-94-18 in 12 seasons with the USF women’s squad, 34-17 in three seasons with the USF men’s squad and 23-14-8 in three years with UALR.

Fleck’s career began as a young boy who watched his father, the late Dr. Thomas Fleck, coach collegiate games at Lehigh University. Dr. Fleck was a soccer coach for decades at both the high school and collegiate level, and even coached against his son (Dr. Fleck won). Dr. Fleck was a cornerstone in his son’s life. He provided the inspiration for his son to become a coach by his passion, love and enjoyment for the game of soccer.

The Fleck family sent out the following statement: “Logan loved soccer, he loved Stetson, and he loved his players and colleagues throughout his coaching career. Logan was more than a coach — he was a mentor who gave generously of his time, talent and friendship.  Most of all, Logan was loved by his family and friends who will miss him deeply.  But Logan was a man of faith. We are confident that while he is no longer with us physically, he is with the Lord. So while we grieve, we also hope, ‘I would not have you grieve, Brothers and Sisters, like those who have no hope.’ (1 Thess. 4:13).”

Fleck took over the reins of Stetson’s program in August 2007 and guided the Hatters to an 11-5-2 mark and a second place finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

In 2009 Fleck led the Hatters to the second Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship in the program’s history and second-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. Stetson finished the regular season with 12 wins, and then picked up postseason victories over ETSU and Mercer before falling to, ironically, USF in the NCAA Tournament. Stetson’s final record was 14-4-2, giving Fleck the program record for the most wins in a season.

“I had only been at Stetson a few months when Coach Fleck and his Fall 2009 men’s soccer team won the first conference championship of my presidency,” said Stetson President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D. “He was so pleased by that. I am wearing the conference championship ring today in his memory. I appreciated his enthusiasm and love of the game.”

Fleck began his coaching career at Seminole (Fla.) High School in Sanford, where he served as boy’s head coach. He also coached at Lyman High School in Orlando before accepting an assistant position at Florida Southern College, where served for two seasons. In 1987 he became the head coach at UALR, where he started both the men’s and women’s programs.

“Obviously I am shocked, saddened and stunned,” said Stetson women’s soccer head coach Manoj Khettry. “Logan’s reputation as a member of U.S. Soccer was well known and he has been a long-standing coach here in Florida. He took such great pride in being an American soccer coach and a staff coach of U.S. Soccer. Logan was never short on either words or thoughts about the game and was always available to exchange ideas with anyone about the game we all love. I feel so empty and disheartened for his family, his many friends and his players. We have lost a tremendously dedicated, experienced and loyal coach far too soon.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

By Cris Belvin