Kutztown University Athletics

Dr. Al F. Leonzi was a member of the Kutztown University football team’s coaching staff for more than 25 years, including six seasons as head coach. Between 1993 and 1997, Leonzi was the full-time head coach, during which the Golden Bears had .500 or better records three of the five seasons. He also stepped in as an interim head coach in 1984. Leonzi served various other capacities in his time at Kutztown, including coaching defensive backs, defensive line, linebackers, perimeter and special teams.  His primary role as an assistant coach was as defensive coordinator, spending 19 seasons (1969-88) in the role under coach George Baldwin.  Leonzi built defenses that were ranked atop the PSAC annually and were ranked nationally in Division II.  He coached 112 All-PSAC players and eight Division II All-Americans, including retired Buffalo Bills wideout Andre Reed and Denver Broncos linebacker John Mobley. Leonzi was a professor of secondary education at KU beginning in 1969 until his retirement in 2005 as professor emeritus.  He served as the department chairman from 1980-83.  Leonzi coached football and wrestling at Westfield (NJ) High School from 1965-69. He was a four-sport standout at Summit Hill High School, where he graduated in 1960.  Leonzi earned his bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences (1964) and a master’s degree in secondary education (1965) from Penn State University.  He received his doctorate in education from Pacific Western in 1992.  Leonzi has been inducted into the National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley Chapter Hall of Fame (2000) as well as the Carbon County Area Sports Hall of Fame (2007).  Leonzi and his wife, Roseann, reside in Allentown, Pa. They have one son, Doug, who was an All-PSAC receiver at East Stroudsburg in 1992.  Doug and his wife, Melissa, have three children – Jenna, Maeve and Gabrielle.