VIDEO: BILLLEATHERMAN HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Bill Leatherman was hired as Bridgewater College’s headbasketball coach in 1985 and turned the Eagles program into one ofthe most respected in the region.
Leatherman came to Bridgewater after successful coaching stintsin the high- school basketball ranks and as an assistant at JamesMadison University. During his six seasons at JMU, the Dukes madethree straight trips to the NCAA tournament and notched wins overnational powers Georgetown, Ohio State and West Virginia.
In just his second season at Bridgewater, Leatherman led theEagles to the ODAC regular season title and, a year later, to the1987-88 ODAC Championship, earning the College’s first-everNCAA appearance in any team sport.
Leatherman was named the ODAC Coach of the Year four times(1987,1989, 1996, 2005) and South Region Coach four times (1987,1988, 1996, 2005). Following the 2005-06 season, Leathermanreceived the Guardians Award for Advocacy by the NationalAssociation of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The honor is one of thetop awards in the college coaching profession.
While at Bridgewater, Leatherman served as an instructor in theHealth & Exercise Science department. He also was instrumentalin founding the Eagle Club and served as its director for severalyears.
Leatherman retired following the 2007-08 season and finished hiscareer with a 335-262 record – the most wins for amen’s basketball coach in Bridgewater College history. In2010 Leatherman received the 14th Annual DivisionIII Outstanding Service Award from the NABC.
Leatherman received his A.A. degree at Ferrum College beforecompleting his bachelor’s degree at Milligan College. Hereceived his master’s in physical education from LynchburgCollege. Leatherman was inducted into the Ferrum College SportsHall of Fame in 1998.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions as the Eaglesbasketball coach for 23 seasons, Bill Leatherman is worthy ofinduction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.
