St. Clair leaves Rampart boys to coach Doherty girls' basketball

Coach J’on St. Clair, who led the Rampart boys’ basketball team on a successful season and run to the state quarterfinals last season, has resigned as the Rams coach to take the girls’ head coaching job at Doherty.

St. Clair’s predecessor Stephanie Leasure stepped down last month to focus on becoming a mother, and gave birth to twin boys today.

The move was announced today by Doherty athletic director Chris Noll.

“We opened the position and after interviewing some fantastic applicants, we are very happy to have coach St. Clair,” Noll said.

There are several family ties that helped make this decision for St. Clair, as his father-in-law Dan McKiernan is the head boys’ coach at Doherty and St. Clair’s assistant is his brother-in-law Pat McKiernan.

“There were a lot of family things that factored into this; my daughter will be a freshman at Doherty this fall and Pat’s daughter will be a sophomore,” St. Clair said.

The move will make it a big, happy coaching family for the Spartans, but St. Clair made it clear what his expectations are.

“We want to build a basketball powerhouse here at Doherty with both the boys and girls teams,” he said. “My goal is to make the Doherty girls the best team in the city and to eventually win a state championship.”

As for Rampart, who enjoyed a 23-3 season and lost to Doherty in the state quarterfinals, it will be looking for a new coach to replace St. Clair, who was the coach for six years.

“I really enjoyed my time at Rampart and I would encourage them to hire one of my assistants so that the system can stay in place for the kids that are returning,” St. Clair said.

The Rams lose all five starters from last season’s team and will need to rebuild through their new coach.

Leasure coached for eight seasons, according to the Colorado High School Activities Association.