Columbia Director of Athletics Michael Leonard was named Chapter 2 Athletic Director of the Year by the NYS Athletic Administrators Association earlier this week.
This school year, Columbia won Section II Championships in Boys’ Indoor Track and Field and Boys’ Volleyball, which advanced to the NYS Championships, and Columbia finished as runners up in Boys’ Bowling, Girls’ Bowling, Girls’ Soccer and Girls’ Volleyball.
Today, the #NYSAAA Chapter 2 honoree as AD of the Year is Michael Leonard from the East Greenbush CSD and @ColumbiaDevils @Sect2athletics Congratulations Michael!! #NYSAAAConf22 pic.twitter.com/qVYf2kZoXI
— NYSAAA (@NYSAAA6) February 14, 2022
Mr. Leonard has served as Columbia High School’s athletic director since 2002. During his tenure, Mr. Leonard has been instrumental in starting the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame and establishing Unified Sports in the district, which has special education and regular education students compete together. Columbia Athletics won the NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Award every year between 2013-20. They have also received two NYSPHSAA Community Service Awards for participation in the Teal Ribbon Run to support ovarian cancer research and the Adopt a Family gift giving project during the holidays.
Mr. Leonard served as Suburban Council President three times and helped start the Suburban Council Student Athlete Leadership Summit and end-of-year banquet.
“I am honored to receive this very special recognition,” said Mr. Leonard. “It’s a team award for everyone involved in Columbia Athletics.”
Mr. Leonard will be retiring in September, completing a 32-year career in the East Greenbush Central School District.
Congratulations to Mr. Leonard!