Leeder Named Athletic Director

Mike Leeder has been named permanent athletic director (AD) at Georgia Southwestern State University effective Monday, Nov. 15, 2014. President Kendall Blanchard made the announcement following a national search. Serving as the interim AD since June replacing Jaclyn Donovan, Leeder will remain the head men’s basketball coach.

“During his short stint as interim athletic director, Coach Leeder proved he had the talents, energy, and leadership skills that are needed in the regular position,” said Blanchard. “Also, this interim appointment gave him an opportunity to see if this is the direction he wanted his career to take. I am grateful that this experience has led him to accept the permanent position. I am confident he will do an outstanding job.”

Having served in this dual role for the last five months, Leeder has hit the ground running in leading GSW Athletics by strengthening partnerships in the community and recently helping lead a successful President’s Classic Golf Tournament to support the GSW Hurricane Booster Club.

“I would like to thank President Blanchard for the opportunity to continue leading our athletic department with this full time appointment,” Leeder said. “Moving forward, I will continue to work with our current student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff to improve upon the positive strides that we have already made in the athletic department over the past five months. In addition, enhancing community partnerships will continue to be a priority as we look to solidify our role as positive ambassadors for the Americus community.”

Leeder officially begins his ninth season as head basketball coach on Nov. 19, 2014 at Fort Valley State University. Under his leadership, GSW has placed 10 players on the Peach Belt All-Conference men’s basketball team. He has coached two PBC Freshmen of the Year, nine PBC Players of the Week, and GSW’s first All-American in any sport during the department’s NCAA era. Leeder was named the 2010-11 PBC Coach of the Year.

GSW has spent 13 weeks in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, including five weeks last season when they climbed to No. 18 on two occasions. Leeder has led the Hurricanes to a pair of NCAA National Tournament appearances.

Previously, Leeder served as head men’s basketball coach at Longwood University (1999-2003); associate men’s basketball coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1998-99); head men’s basketball coach and athletic director at Thomas University (1994-98); and assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Tallahassee Community College (1990-94).

Leeder served at Kentucky Wesleyan the season that they won the NCAA Division II national championship. His first team at Longwood posted a 4-22 record before rebounding with a 23-8 mark the following year for the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division II history. His Longwood team won the only conference championship in the school’s history, and his first recruiting class included the NCAA Division II national player of the year.

Leeder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Florida State University and a Master of Science degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. He and his wife, Jodie, have two children, Michael and Alyssa.