John Leister Named Permanent Athletic Director
John Leister, a member of the Alma College coaching staff since
1994, has been named the College’s permanent full-time athletic
director following a national search that began in February.
Leister, who has served as interim athletic director since December,
will be responsible for the overall development and general management
of the College’s NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic program,
announced Nick Piccolo, vice president for student life at Alma.
His appointment is effective immediately. In accepting the position,
Leister will step down as the Scots’ head baseball coach after 11
seasons, with assistant coach Jud Folske assuming the head coaching
position. Leister will continue to serve as offensive coordinator for
the football team.
A search committee consisting of Piccolo, men’s basketball coach Ed
Kohtala, faculty member Karen Ball and student Kristina Fuehring
reviewed 59 applications for the AD position.
“John brings a dedication to Alma College that’s unsurpassed,” said
Piccolo. “The committee really appreciated his experience, integrity,
candor and devotion to Alma College. He has good instincts for the
position, and he is committed to the College and its athletic program.
“The athletic department has made positive steps forward since John
assumed the interim position in December. He has the ability to
continue that momentum. I’m thrilled he has agreed to accept this
position,” he said.
The committee sought candidates with coaching experience and the
ability to build relationships, recruit and retain prospective
student-athletes, supervise the coaching staff, and comply with NCAA
and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rules, said Piccolo.
“John’s goals will include articulating a central vision for the
continued development of our student-athletes, coaches, facilities and
financial resources,” said Piccolo.
Improving facilities and expanding lines of communication are at the top of Leister’s goals.
“We have coaches, staff and student-athletes here who are passionate
about Alma College,” said Leister. “I’m excited to hopefully serve as a
catalyst for helping the College and the athletic program move forward,
not by inches but by leaps and bounds. I envision the athletic
department linking up more as partners with admissions, academics and
other campus departments. We also want to be visible in Alma and the
surrounding communities.”
Leister came to Alma in 1994 as an assistant football and assistant
baseball coach, eventually assuming the head baseball coaching position
in 1997. As baseball coach, he led the Scots to the 1999 MIAA title.
During his tenure as offensive coordinator for the football team,
Leister helped lead the Scots to MIAA championships in 1999, 2002 and
2004. He has led the offense to record-breaking seasons since arriving
at Alma, coaching some of the finest quarterbacks in Alma College
history, including 2007 graduate Josh Brehm, who won the Gagliardi
Trophy last season as the nation’s best player in NCAA Division III
football.
Prior to coming to Alma, Leister played professional football with the
Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the Michigan
Panthers of the now-defunct United States Football League (USFL) before
pitching for the Boston Red Sox. He was a three-year starter at
quarterback for Michigan State University, graduating in 1991.
He replaces Ellen Curtis, who resigned as athletic director in November
to accept a position with the Alma College admissions office.
Alma College offers nine varsity sports for men and nine varsity sports
for women. Thirty-four percent of Alma students typically participate
in intercollegiate athletics. Alma competes in the MIAA, the oldest
athletic conference in the nation.
Posted: Thu, June 7th, 2007 at 11:37AM
