Renowned college coach and race manager Ken Legler died on May 31 after a 20-year battle with cancer. He was 70.
Legler, the head sailing coach at Tufts University from 1980 until his retirement in 2023, was an All-American at the University of Rhode Island and a 2019 inductee in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Hall of Fame. Legler coached three College Sailors of the Year and 86 All-Americans, four of whom became Olympians. In his years coaching at Tufts, the Jumbos won a total of 20 national titles.
Legler’s sailors were known for their sportsmanship as well as their competitive excellence. Franny Charles, a 1980 Tufts graduate and sailor who coached for 31 years at MIT, said, “The Tufts sailors always reflected his great ethical values on the racecourse. Even though they were fiercely competitive, the Tufts kids were also the nicest competitors on the racecourse.”
John Pearce, Youth Competition Manager at US Sailing who was previously head coach at George Washington University, recalled Legler’s love for the sport: “I’ll always remember a slideshow presentation he gave for a small group of coaches in the Wianno Yacht Club shack, with pictures from all over the world and stories that perfectly captured the beauty and fun of the sport. His impact is lasting and far reaching.”
Legler was a National Race Officer who ran events as varied as Key West Race Week, Opti New Englands, Farr 40 Nordic Championships, Chester Race Week and the Jet 14 Nationals. Legler was well-known in race management circles for his profound aversion to general recalls. He was awarded the Harman Hawkins Trophy by US Sailing in 2011 for his contributions in race administration. He was also a US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Trainer and Level 2 Coach.
“Kenny loved trying out new courses and new methods of starting races,” recalled International Race Officer Tom Duggan. “Our favorite debate topic was the pros and cons of general recalls. If he had any regrets, I’m pretty sure one of them was that he was unable to outlive the Black Flag. He pushed all of us to think outside the box all the time and is the voice in my head saying ‘You sure that’s good enough?’ There will never be another.”
“Ken Legler was a definitive force in college for decades, touching the lives of thousands of sailors from across the country,” said Betsy Alison, a 1981 Tufts graduate, captain of the Jumbos women’s team, and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. “Whether through his coaching prowess or in his role as a PRO at summer youth events, Ken had a significant impact on how sailors viewed and participated in sailing. As a friend, mentor, amateur photographer and sailor, Ken will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
To read more about Ken Legler’s career and his contributions to sailing, please visit this remembrance from Tufts University.
