Georgia Southwestern in search of new athletic director after Mike Leeder takes Arkansas Tech job

Georgia Southwestern State University athletic director Mike Leeder resigned last week, leaving the Americus school in search of a new leader.

Leeder announced his resignation after six years of leading the Hurricanes to pursue a similar position at Arkansas Tech University. Leeder has served at Georgia Southwestern for a total of 17 years as he guided the men’s basketball team for 10 seasons prior to his appointment as the full time director of athletics.

“I would like to thank Dr. (Michael) Haynes for hiring me as the head men’s basketball coach as we transitioned from the NAIA to NCAA division II, to Dr. (Kendall) Blanchard for having the belief in me that I could run the athletics department when he allowed me to assume the role of director of athletics in 2014, to Dr. (Charles) Patterson for allowing me to pursue the director of athletics position full time and allowing me to step away from role as head men’s basketball coach in 2016, and finally to Dr. (Neal) Weaver who has no doubt prepared me for this opportunity at Arkansas Tech,” Leeder said in a school release. “I respect him as my boss, but I value him as a friend. His leadership the past three years has had a significant impact on our competitive success in athletics, and I am grateful for all that he has done for the university.”

Leeder has spearheaded changes in the department designed to greatly improved the student-athlete experience since transitioning to director of athletics in June 2014. He cultivated several new corporate partnerships that aided in the funding of capital improvements that include new scoreboards at baseball and softball, resurfacing of the tennis courts, the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz van for the golf team’s travel, refurbishing of the playing surface for men’s and women’s basketball and stadium lighting at the soccer field which culminated with the first home night match in school history on Sept. 5, 2018.

This past school year, a lighting and sound system upgrade was completed in the Storm Dome to enhance the fan experience at home basketball games and construction began on an indoor hitting facility for baseball and softball that will be completed in the upcoming weeks.

“I have had the chance to work with so many great coaches and staff that it would be impossible to list them all,” Leeder said. “However, Christie Ward (associate director of athletics), Debra Sloan (administrative assistant) and Keith Michlig (assistant director of athletics) have been with me all six years I have served as director of athletics, and their contributions have led to unprecedented success for Hurricane Athletics in the classroom, in the community and on the competitive field of success. We added Nicki Levering to the administrative team three years ago, and she has been wonderful as well.”

Several programs have experienced unprecedented competitive success during the University’s NCAA Division II era under Leeder’s watch. The golf team closed out the 2019-20 season ranked No. 1 in the country according to Golfstat computer rankings as well as the Golf Coaches Association of America coaches poll. The softball team set a program record in 2019 for the most Peach Belt Conference wins in a season and advanced to the conference championship game for the first time in school history. The 2019 baseball team generated the most league wins in a season and fell a tiebreaker short of advancing to the conference championship game. The 2019 women’s cross country team turned in its best finish at the Peach Belt Conference Championship.

GSW student-athletes have ranked among the nation’s best in regards to community service during Leeder’s tenure. With a department-wide emphasis on community engagement, GSW finished third nationwide in the Team Works/Community Service NCAA DII Competition during the 2018-19 academic year.

Academically, the department continues to reach historic levels for the University. In 2018-19, a school-record 103 athletes landed on the Peach Belt Conference honor roll. That number signifies a 45% increase from 2013-14, the year prior to Leeder’s start as AD.

“My family and I will miss so much about GSW, and we are indebted to the Americus and Ellaville communities that embraced us after moving here from Virginia in 2003,” Leeder said.

An accomplished coaching and leadership career facilitated Leeder’s successful transition to administration. Under his guidance on the hardwood, the Hurricanes spent 13 weeks ranked in the NABC National NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

Leeder steered the program to a pair of NCAA National Tournament appearances with the first coming in the school’s second year of NCAA postseason eligibility. This earned him the 2010-11 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year award. GSW placed 12 players on the Peach Belt All-Conference men’s basketball team during Leeder’s tenure, and he coached two PBC Freshmen of the Year, one PBC Player of the Year, 10 PBC Players of the Week, and GSW’s first All-American in any sport during the department’s NCAA era.

“Finally, I want to thank Coach Randolph Barksdale for all of his guidance and friendship during my time here at GSW,” Leeder said. “Outside of my father, no person in my life has had the impact that coach has had. I’m not sure how things would have turned out for my family if we hadn’t crossed paths 25 years ago, but I’m glad I don’t have to find out. He is the best.”

Leeder begins his new position on July 1 at Arkansas Tech. With an enrollment of over 12,000 students, ATU is Arkansas’ third largest university.

Special Photo: Georgia Southwestern State University Athletics