University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics

    Paul Leonard has made a living out of surrounding himself with team sports.  What started at a young age has become a theme in his life, and Mr. Leonard has taken his on-field experience and extended it into a career.  Mr. Leonard has been a part of the greater-Johnstown community for most of his adult life after growing up in Ligonier, Pa., where he was an American Legion standout infielder.  At Pitt-Johnstown, Mr. Leonard was converted into a pitcher, and the four-year letter winner made his mark in the record books as a senior, when he tossed the first and only perfect game in Mountain Cat baseball history on Sept. 24, 1976 against Saint Francis College.  Mr. Leonard struck out nine in Pitt-Johnstown’s 7-0 victory in the opening game of a doubleheader.  Mr. Leonard then returned and pitched the seventh and eighth innings of game two to earn his second victory of the day in the Mountain Cats’ 6-4 extra-inning win.  Mr. Leonard struck out three more and didn’t allow a base runner.
     After graduation, Mr. Leonard took his bachelor’s in elementary education and became a jack of all trades for the Shade-Central City School District.  He is in his 31^st year as head baseball coach, while serving as the Federal Programs/Technology Coordinator for the past 20 years and Athletic Director for the last 11 years.  For 25 years, he was an assistant varsity football coach, and, for 12, he served as the junior high basketball coach. Mr. Leonard also is active in many volunteer groups, such as the Southern Alleghenies Football Coaches Association, the Ken Lantzy Finest Forty Board of Directors and the Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Board of Directors.
     “These experiences are such a vital extension of the classroom,” Mr. Leonard explains.  “I guess that’s why I get satisfaction being an educator, coach and volunteer for anything that involves young people and athletics.”  Mr. Leonard also keeps his athletic spirit alive within his family.  “There have been so many Hall of Fame worthy student-athletes at Pitt-Johnstown.  I never gave it a thought that I would be considered, let alone selected.  I am extremely grateful.”
     Mr. Leonard and his wife Melinda have three children, Jesse, Abby and Benjamin, who have been successful college athletes, as well.