Leatherman Returns to Anderson as Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach

Anderson University 2020 graduate Ian Leatherman returns to Anderson to serve as an assistant cross country and track & field coach, which was announced on Tuesday.

Leatherman competed for the Ravens as a standout cross country and track & field student-athlete from 2016-2021. He came back for the 2021 outdoor track and field season to use the remainder of his eligibility following the cancellation of the Spring 2020 championships.

"I am eager to return to the AU running programs in a new capacity," Leatherman said. "I enjoyed my time as a student-athlete and look forward to helping current athletes as the coaches I have run under have helped me. I am excited to be able to contribute to these predominantly young teams as they come into their own while I finish out my academic time at AU."

Leatherman was honored as Anderson's Outstanding Male Athlete in 2020. During his cross country career, Leatherman earned all-conference honors in all four years. As a freshman, he finished 19th place to earn all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Honorable Mention. He then earned a first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore by securing 10th in the conference meet. As a junior, Leatherman captured third in the HCAC Championships to garner first-team all-conference honors. Leatherman then took 15th in the conference meet as a senior to earn all-HCAC Honorable Mention.

During the NCAA Regional Meet, Leatherman claimed 50th as a senior. He was later named a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Individual.

Leatherman recorded three all-conference performances during the HCAC Indoor Championships in his career. He turned in a time of 8 minutes, 54.1 seconds in the 3,000-meter run to take third as a sophomore. Leatherman secured third (15:43.78) in the 5,000 as a junior and repeated in third (15:48.51) during the 5,000 as a senior.

During his career, Leatherman earned two HCAC Player-of-the-Week selections. Leatherman received one in cross county after taking ninth in the Bullock Invitational. He also captured a HCAC Track-Athlete-of-the-Week selection during the indoor season as a senior after winning the 3,000 during the UIndy Season Opener with a time of 9:08.13. Leatherman received academic all-HCAC honors in each of the years he was eligible, which include three for cross country, three for indoor track and field, and four for outdoor track and field. He also received the HCAC Sportsmanship award as a junior for indoor track and field and as a senior for cross country.

Leatherman graduated from Anderson in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated from the Honors program and the Alpha Chi Honors Society. Leatherman is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Anderson. He is currently a graduate assistant for the Engineering department, aiding students with projects, helping recruit future engineering students and acting as a faculty advisor for the Engineering Club.

Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.