Bill Leeds – San Fernando Valley Track and Field Coaching legend passes on

Accolades from those who worked with him and knew him

We received word Thursday that the architect of the super Crespi HS (Encino) track and field program of the 1960’s and into the 1970’s, Bill Leeds, passed on earlier this week. Mr. Leeds developed tremendous teams with top athletes in all event areas over a period of years with really what had to be one of the nation’s top dozen prep track and field teams over a period of years.

One of the stars that his program had was Steve Caminiti, who was recently a coach at Reseda HS. Caminiti was a 13.7 (HH= Nat’l Record)and 18.1 (180 lows in those days = Nat’l Record) hurdler in 1964. Steve’s hurdle races with later pro football player Earl McCullouch (LB Poly) were legendary (including a big state meet showdown in the LA Coliseum in 1964). Success was all over the place at Crespi, with Mike Kearns a CIF two mile champ in 1965 at 9:20.2 (#26 AT US prep with that mark), Dave Saykally the same year a 4:16 miler, as the twosome joined with other teammates to set a National Record for the 4x1 mile at 17:41.2.

Ken Dugan was a 9.6 and 48.2 sprinter that same 1965 season. John Cottier was a 13.8 hurdler in 1968, Al Pesce was a 13.9 hurdler who was about 48.5 for the 440 a few years later. We believe that Leeds was involved at least through the early 1970’s in a big way at Crespi, which would put him at the start of the amazing Curran family (Tim vaulting a national age-15 record of 15-00 in 1971 and 16-02.75 as a senior in 1973) and Randy Cross, the pro footballer who was a mere 67-06.5 Shot Putter at Crespi in 1972. Current UCLA Vault Coach Anthony Curran was along by 1975 with a 14-08.75 as a freshman at Crespi, probably the #2 frosh mark to that point in US History behind Tim Johnson of Bloom Township in Illinois.

As you can see from the below accomplishments the Crespi program was amazing, an All-Boys School of not really that large a size (anybody know the enrollment in the 60’s and 70’s at Crespi?)

Crespi High School Track & Field Achievements (ED NOTE: FROM CRESPI HS WEB SITE)

1961 - 2002

TEAM
Crespi is the only school to set three National Interscholastic records in two years. (ed note - LB Poly has broken this one with its two Girls Relay records at Arcadia each of the last two years (800 relay and 800 medley), and 400 and 1600 relays along the way).

Crespi is one of three schools to set two National Interscholastic records in one year.

Records established in 1964 and again in 1978.

Crespi is one of seven schools in the United States to set as many as five National Interscholastic records.

Crespi is the only school to have a combined Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph winning streak of 157 consecutive victories (ed note - would be interesting to know the years of this streak?).

23 Crespi athletes are on the High School All-Time Achievement List.

4 Crespi Relay Teams are on the High School All-Time Achievement List.

Varsity Record 275 wins 62 losses (winning percentage- 81%)
Junior Varsity 273 wins 64 losses (winning percentage-81%)
Frosh-Soph 266 wins 69 losses (winning percentage-79%)

One Varsity winning streak of 49 consecutive victories.

One Junior Varsity winning streak of 48 victories.

One Frosh-Soph winning streak of 48 victories.

Varsity placed first in the 2A CIF Championships in 1972.
Varsity placed third in the CIF 4A Championships in 1965.
Varsity placed third in the CIF 3A Championships in 1975.
Varsity placed fourth in the CIF 4A Championships in 1971.
Varsity placed fourth in the CIF 4A Championships in 1972.
Varsity placed fifth in the CIF 3A Championships in 1974.
Varsity placed fifth in the CIF 4A Championships in 1964.
Varsity placed fifth in the State Championships in 1964.
Varsity placed third in the State Championships in 1965.
Varsity placed second in CIF 1A Championships in 1980
Varsity place second in CIF 2A Championships in 1981.
Varsity placed second in CIF 2A Championships in 1980.
Varsity placed second in CIF 2A Championships in 1989.

CRESPI INDIVIDUAL TRACK & FIELD ACHIEVEMENTS
1961-2001
National Record of :13.7 in 120 HH by Steve Caminiti in 1964.
National Record of :18.1 in 180 LH by Steve Caminiti in 1964.
National Record of 17:41.2 in the 4 mile relay by a team of
Don Bowler - Jim Romain - Mike Kearns - Dave Saykally.
World Record of the Pole Vault for 15 year olds at 15 feet by Tim Curran.
National Sophomore Record in the Pole Vault at a height of 15'9.25" by Anthony Curran.
National Junior Record in the Pole Vault at a height of 16'4.25" by Anthony Curran.
National Senior Record in the Pole Vault at a height of 17'4.25" by Anthony Curran.
National Senior Record in the 330m LH at : 35.8(electronic timing) by Willie Curran.

World Record for the High Jump for 13 year olds at 6'0.75" by Tony Patta.
CIF Freshman Class Record in the Pole Vault at 14'8.75" by Anthony Curran.
CIF Sophomore Class Record in the Pole Vault at 15'9.5" by Anthony Curran.
CIF Junior Class Record in the Pole Vault at 16'4.25" by Anthony Curran.
CIF Senior Class Record in the Pole Vault at 17'4.25" by Anthony Curran.
"San Fernando Valley Athlete of the Year" award presented to Steve Caminiti for 1964.

CIF VARSITY CHAMPIONS
Mike Kearns in the 2 mile 1965.
Tim Curran in the Pole Vault in 1972 and 1973.
Jean Beaudry in the Shot Put in 1973.
Anthony Curran in the Pole Vault in 1976, 1977, 1978.
Willie Curran in the 330 LH in 1977 and 1978.
Willie Curran in the 220 in 1978.
Robert Kubler in the 3200 meters 2001.

STATE CHAMPIONS
Randy Cross in the Shot Put in 1972.
Tim Curran in the Pole Vault in 1973.
Anthony Curran in the Pole Vault in 1977.
Anthony Curran in the Pole Vault in 1978.

Anyone with any more specific information on Coach Leeds, please pass it on - e-mail to us (years exactly he coached, etc.)