Leesburg, FL  — Leesburg Lightning Coach Rich Billings was named the Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL) Coach of the Year.  This accolade comes on the heels of the Lightning’s second consecutive FCSL World Series championship they won in late July agains the DeLand Suns.

Billings, who guided the Lightning to back-to-back titles, is a favorite in our area. Fans, players, and community members have come to greatly appreciate his coaching style,  leadership and strategic acumen which were pivotal in maintaining the team’s dominance in the league.

The FCSL  delivered the announcement Monday afternoon and praised Billings for his role in transforming the Lightning into a powerhouse. This is Billings third league title.

Billings, known for his calm demeanor and sharp game strategies, expressed gratitude to his players all year long. We recently got to interview him on our Sports Hub Podcast. “I understand the season in the FCSL is short because these guys go back to college almost right after the season is over. Getting the right group of guys is important and each year our guys truly love playing in front of our fans. I want to thank the Leesburg fans for making this league fun. We play in front of a packed house every night and it’s just a great atmosphere to coach in,” says Billings.

The players have now begun to go back to their respective collegiate programs. We hope to see some of them in the MLB some day or in other leagues. Regardless, we are so happy for coach Rich Billings for his continued support of this great summer league. We look forward to seeing what Rich Billings Lake-Sumter State College team will be capable of in 2025. Congratulations!

Photo Credit – FCSL