Lance Leipold joining pro baseball ownership group

Lance Leipold has won more than 160 games as an NCAA head football coach, including six NCAA Division III national championships and a dozen different coach of the year honors ranging from conference to national accolades.

He's a proven program builder and rebuilder; a football innovator.

Now? You also can call him a professional sports owner.

Leipold has bought an ownership stake in the Beloit (Wisconsin) Sky Carp, a Minor League Baseball affiliate of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins.

The club announced the news Tuesday, when it noted both the head coach and his wife, Kelly, had joined the Sky Carp as minority owners.

"We’ve known the Studers for over a decade," Leipold said in a state released by the club. "They have been unwavering supporters at every stage our journey, including Lawrence (Kansas, where Leipold has been atop the Jayhawks football program the past four seasons). They are like family. 

"While our primary focus is on football in Kansas, we pursued an ownership opportunity that reflects our commitment to the area.”

Lance Leipold is a Jefferson, Wisconsin, native, an area that rests less than 50 miles from the Sky Carp's home, and he rose to national acclaim while guiding Wisconsin-Whitewater to a six-pack of NCAA DIII titles barely 35 minutes from Beloit.

The Club has said that the Leipolds will be featured guests of the Sky Carp May 9 when they host Cedar Rapids.

Here's guessing Leipold's ceremonial first pitch is a completion.