JIM LEON

Contact Coach Leon:
jim.leon@lakotaonline.com
513.987.7035

Jimmy Leon is now in his second season as the head coach at Lakota West, but this will be his 26th season at the helm of a high school varsity program.  Over the course of these many years, he has been successful at both large and small high schools, public and private schools, and with both boys and girls teams. Cumulatively Leon has passed the 300 prep win milestone.  He is best remembered for the success of his Woodward boys teams who were Ohio D-1 State Runner-ups in 1990 and State Quarterfinalists in 1999. In addition, he was the Assistant coach for the Bulldogs 1988 State Championship team.

Leon has had a lifelong love affair with basketball and got into teaching and coaching at the urging of legendary coach Paul Fry. Fry became Leon’s mentor while Leon was a student at Elder High School.  Following his graduation with a BS degree in social studies from Xavier University Leon began teaching and coaching with brief stops at Summit Country Day and Western Hills before landing at Woodward.  He himself became a mentor in 90-91 by hiring an eager young Mic Cronin to be his JV coach and varsity assistant.  It was at Cronin’s urging in fact that Coach Leon came back to boys big school (D-1) basketball as soon as an opportunity presented itself.

In addition to Jimmy, the Leon family consists of wife Julie, who works as a pharmacist and daughter is a junior at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts. (SCPA).