Rachel Leonard was named the assistant coach for the Corsairs men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field teams in November of 2023.
Leonard comes to the Corsairs following a season as the Director of Track and Field Operations at the University of Iowa, where she oversaw camps, clinics and recruiting events, handled itineraries for meets and travel for two large squads, while also serving as the staff liaison for academics, compliance, sports information and event management.
Prior to her time with the Hawkeyes, Leonard served as the Track and Field Operations Assistant at Florida State University. Her duties included assisting with daily operation at practices and competitions, coordinating women’s distance recruiting and supporting the Director of Operations with travel, equipment and roster management.
Leonard served as the Assistant Track and Field Coach, along with a Recruiting Coordinator title, at Ripon College in 2021-22. She created and implemented a detailed lifting program, while also managing all recruiting efforts. Additionally, she coordinated a number of track and field meets at the collegiate and high school level.
Before her tenure at Ripon, Leonard was an Assistant Coach at her alma mater, Colby College. There, she worked closely with the head coach to support 65 student-athletes at practice and competitions, while planning and directing home meets and coordinating team travel needs for away meets. Her duties also included managing a database of 5,000 prospective students and facilitating the recruiting process and campus visits. In addition to that, she created social media content that increased alumni, family, and community following by 58 percent.
A 2019 graduate of Colby, Leonard was a three-time Division-III National qualifier as a student-athlete, while also holding the school record in the 500 meters. Named Team Captain as a senior, Leonard also served as a student assistant coach that year. In addition to All-NESCAC honors, she earned All-Region as a senior and was a USTFCCCA All-Academic selection. As a senior, she was awarded the Patty Valavanis award that recognizes athletic and academic excellence and personal leadership and sportsmanship.
Leonard received her B.A. in Latin American Studies from Colby and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Education from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. She received her USTFCCCA Track & Field certification in September of 2019 and is also certified in USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning and Meet Management.
Leonard is USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Certified. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Education at Thomas College, and graduated Colby with a degree in Latin American Studies.
