Dr. Ed Leonard (2010) - Hall of Fame - Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics

Dr. Ed Leonard

Induction:
2010

Every athletic program need a catalyst...that one person with an idea and the initiative to take action on that idea. That person for IPFW is Dr. Ed Leonard. Dr. Leonard is simply "The Father of IPFW Athletics". With a couple hundred dollars and a basketball, he was the first basketball coach in IPFW history. In 1967-68 his team finished the year with a record of 7-4, and everyone one of those players, left IPFW with an undergraduate degree. Dr. Leonard was also the first golf coach at IPFW. From 1972-75 his teams won 65-percent of their dual and triangular meets. He coached Dan Gerard to IPFW's first-ever NCAA post-season competition, the NCAA Division III National Championships. As an administrator, Dr. Leonard served as the Chairman of the IPFW Joint Athletic Committee and was instrumental in the addition of women's athletics. He was also the school's first athletic director. In his 40-plus years of support to the athletic department, Dr. Leonard established the first endowed scholarship at IPFW. The Dr. Ed Leonard Endowed Athletic Scholarship is awarded o a member of the IPFW basketball, baseball, or volleyball programs who is a junior or a senior majoring in business. Also this past year, the Leonard Family created an endowed men's volleyball scholarship as part of the Arnie Ball Legacy Campaign.