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Bill Leeds - legendary Crespi Coach of 1960's and 1970's - reply string to request for information - Accolades from many

1964 - Steve Caminiti (Crespi) 13.7 and 18.1 in the hurdles - Earl McCullough (LB Poly) 13.7 and 18.1 that year

One of the great athletes at Crespi HS during the coaching tenure of Bill Leeds was Steve Caminiti, with his senior year season of 1964 a magical one of prep hurdling. With the national record at 13.7 in the High Hurdles by John Turek from north Miami, Florida from 1960, the Southern Califonria duo of Caminiti and Earl McCullouch (LB Poly pictured above) equalled that mark during the 1964 campaign, with them both breaking the national prep all-time best for the longer barrier event run in those days, the 180 lows, with 18.1 clockings that took down the old national record of 18.3. With 13.7 hurdler Roger Moody of Corona and others that year the Southern Section series of competitions leading to state were very highly anticipated, with the LA Coliseum State meet of 1964 drawing a huge crowd with anticipation of another hurdles showdown involving the group.

McCullouch, who interestingly was referred to in all newspapers as Earl McCullough (including in the state meet program) until a few days after the state meet, where a small note in the LA Herald Examiner noted that all had his last name incorrect for his prep years. He did go on to Track and Football glory at USC and as a pro football wide receiver. At that 1964 State meet, McCullouch (14.1), Roger Mooody (14.1), and Jeff Vanderstock (Pomona Catholic) 14.2 were Highs Heat winners (with Caminiti second at 14.3 to Vanderstock). The first day 180 Lows had Charles Smith (Castlemont, Oakland) 18.8, Caminiti 18.7, and McCullouch 18.5 as heat winners. In the Finals, run into the wind, McCullouch was the Highs winner on Saturday at 14.1, with Moody and Caminiti second and third all with 14.1 times in the days before electronic photo timers. In the 180 Lows Finals, McCullouch again was victorious, with an 18.4 over the 18.5 of Charles Smith, with Caminiti next at 18.7. Back in the days of dirt tracks and quality hand timing, the performances of the group of hurdlers that 1964 season and quality of their competitions was as exciting as any match-ups in the last half century of California prep track.

The death of Coach Bill Leeds brings an end of an era. He was the purest track coach that the sport had to offer. He gave a lot, he demanded a lot, and because of that he delivered tough athletes who may never have reached their true potential if not coached under him.

Coach was highly intelligent and motivated. He thought out of the box, and wasn’t afraid to explore beyond contemporary theories and concepts to train and produce better athletes.

He saw the bigger picture and motivated his athletes in such a way that they could see that picture, and do everything possible to be part of it.

He was tough, he was demanding, temperamental, fiercely competitive, and proud of his Irish heritage. I have indeed been a lucky man to have been under his guiding hand as an athlete, a coach, and a friend.

I was in total awe of Coach Leeds when I met him in high school. I still am. I’m really going to miss him.

I had the good fortune and privilege to have been taught by Coach Leeds at Crespi High School (English as a sophomore and Political Science as a senior) and to have been coached by him as a member of the track team from 1968-1970. I had the further privilege not only to have been one of his students and track team members but also to have worked directly for him on his staff as an assistant track coach at Crespi from 1971-1973 and to have worked with him on the faculty as a fellow teacher, coach and administrator from 1973-1976.

Coach Leeds' approach both in the classroom and on the track was direct and challenging. His challenge to his students and athletes and staff had one goal - excellence. He expected excellence in the classroom, insisting upon substance and clarity when expressing ideas. He expected excellence on the track, insisting upon continual improvement and he was always dissatisfied with anything less. His style was often intimidating. It was certainly not fun to be a recipient of one of his legendary bellows. But much more often his style was one of encouragement, one on one if possible. He had an intense desire to see people perform at their best and he would praise those who did. Although he was intensely competitive, he talked little about winning. He talked constantly about perfecting fundamentals and about improvement. He sold us on the idea that true satisfaction in life can only come with one's best effort. Arete, he taught, was an aspiration of the ancient Greeks, the virtue of using one's entire being, mind and body, to reach one's highest potential. It has been often during my life that I have heard the echoes of Coach Bill Leeds' intelligent, well-read, challenging, motivating, competitive, and bombastic voice encouraging, indeed demanding, my best effort. I know those echoes have been and will continue to be heard by many others.

Ken Holcomb

Doug,

I ran Crespi track under Coach Leeds as a JV in 1971 and Varsity in 1972.
He did, indeed, teach us to do our best. During practice and during meets,
I have strong memories of him encouraging us to "rise to the occasion". He
brought out the best in all of us. It was a pleasure and honor to be
coached by Bill Leeds.

Joe Guzzardi
Crespi Class of '72

Service set for former Crespi AD

A memorial service will be held next Wednesday (5/26) for former Crespi of Encino athletic director and track and cross country coach Bill Leeds, who died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.

The memorial service will be held at Our Lady of Grace (in front of Crespi High on Ventura Blvd. and White Oak) at 11 a.m., followed by a burial service at San Fernando/Mission cemetery.

Canyon High football coach Garry Welch who attended Crespi and coached under Leeds, has fond memories of his longtime friend.

"I can't think of anyone who was more instrumental in helping to put Crespi on the map," Welch said. "He touched many, many people and had a profound effect on many athletes and coaches."

Leeds began his career at Crespi in 1961.

I ran track and cross country for Coach Leeds between 1972 and 1976. For 4 years I probably spent more time with him than anyone else. I ran for him, took History, Geopolitics, and English classes from him, and worked for him after practices and all summer running the athletic department. There is not a week that goes by that I don't think about the positive influence he had on me during my high school years, my college track career, in my professional career, and with my family. Frankly, I think he had some type of influence over every student at Crespi -- not just the track team. When I speak with any Crespi alumni, without exception, we share a Coach Leeds story. And there are plenty of stories.

The irony of all the wins -- the winning streak, the league championships, the individual records and achievements -- is that he never emphasized winning. His emphasis was on each of us doing the very best we could every time we competed. It didn't matter if you were the star varsity athlete or the last-place freshman two-miler -- all he wanted was your best.

But, boy was he tough. While you knew when he as happy with your performance, you REALLY, REALLY knew when he was not. Physically, he was big -- and very intimidating. Every practice was intense -- even the easy ones. You had to be ready to compete the second you stepped on the track -- from the 1-lap warm-up, through the team stretch, and all drills. There were many classic team meetings in the library when we weren't meeting his expectations.

I know you will soon be inundated with letters from Crespi people within the next few minutes.

I played football at Crespi from 1974-77, and ran track as a freshman as well. Bill Leeds was one of the greatest teachers (I had him for Geopolitics as well as a Junior in 1976) and coaches the high school world has ever known. (Enrollment in the 70's was under 600. Today it is 470----and still boys only!!!!)

Because of him, many football coaches who are still today large contributors and participants at even the professional level still flourish.

John Becker, 1965, who today is in charge of player personnel for the Indianapolis Colts, was named head coach at the tender age of 21 by Bill Leeds. Coach Becker is largely credited with and remembered as being the inventor of the Crespi football factory, which flourished until the late 70's and Coach Leeds had finally moved on.(I left in 1977 and he was still there).

There were many wonderful athletes as well as coaches to walk the halls of Crespi in the 70's who were tutored under Bill Leeds. 20 Starters on the 1974 CIF runner-up were named to the All Del Rey League team under coach Steve Butler and Coach Leeds, and 12 were All CIF. Walt "The Man Of" Steele, Joe "The Jet" Lombino, Marv Wheat, Bill Schneiders, Brian Porter, John Obringer, Alex and Bob Kettles, Randy Cross, Mike Brady, Willie Curran, Dan Laufenberg, Brandon "Babe" Laufenberg, Dave Gomer; Football coaches John Becker (Oregon, Ind. Colts), Pat Hill (Fresno St. - class of '65) Steve Butler (UCLA, Valley & SaMo colleges), Mo Friedman (UCLA, Valley colleges), Bill Hedlund, Paul Muff and Ed Marek (A.D.s & Basketball coaches), center Paul Mokeski (1975, Kansas, Milwaukee Bucks) were merely a few of the stellar athletes and coaches to grace the 20-classroom hallowed halls of Crespi Carmelite High School.

Coach Leeds was gruff, stern, intense and was one of the great role models for young Catholic men approaching adulthood. He was a brilliant teach and coach who could get the most out of some severly depleted, largely small and under-populated teams. He worked with what he had, and turned out champions year after year.

He was one of the most encouraging and positive role models that ever I have had in my lifetime.

Doug,

I know that Bill coached at Notre Dame Sherman Oaks in the late 50s and
I believe prior to that was at Loyola HS.

--Walt