Behind the Scenes: Coach Leatherwood

By: Madie Blancaflor

          When you hear the name “Coach Leatherwood,” you automatically think of his loud voice and…let’s say unique style. While everyone knows how loud his voice is, not many truly know how loud his actions are. Coach Leatherwood is adored by not only his dedicated football players, but also by the students privileged enough to know the real Coach. From high school to college and even now in his carrer, his love of sports and his unique personality have inspired many.

            Born in Alabama, Howard Leatherwood fell in love with sports at a young age. Throughout high school, he played football and track. I never would have guessed he ran track, but he was good enough to win all-state in both sports. After high school, he was offered a football scholarship to OBU in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and seized the opportunity. Enter a young woman named Joy (now known as Mrs. Leatherwood). “He was such a sweetheart. I remember that short hair and those sideburns,” she laughed. “We were set up on a blind date, and the rest was history.”

            Coach Leatherwood has been a coach at Lake Hamilton since before 1979. Throughout his years here at LH, he’s been a Drivers Ed instructor and an assistant football coach. He’s assisted the wolves in winning two state championships (in 1998 and 2008) and at least 4 conference titles.

            In the years since 1978, he has gained the respect and admiration from many. Cameron Anderson, a junior on the football team, adores Coach Leatherwood. “He’s not like other coaches. He doesn’t have favorites… he pretty much hates us all,” he jokes. “Seriously, though, he’s like a second dad to the majority of us [the football team], very protective. We all adore and look up to him.” Not only do his players admire him, but students do too. Candace Boehm, a sophomore at LH, emphasizes that people just love Coach Leatherwood. “I love how he’s a giant teddy bear under the hard exterior, but at the same time, he doesn’t take crap from anyone.” I think it’s safe to say that Coach Leatherwood has a huge impact on the student body from his loud, sonic boom of a voice to his thunderous personality.

Throughout high school, college, and now his career, Coach has sparked imaginations with his somewhat strange way of talking and dressing. If you are a student at Lake Hamilton, you can’t go a day without hearing “Come here to me, boy!” or “Get away from me!” (I think he might have bipolar personal space issues). As a football player or manager, you’ll hear “Get up! You’re killing my grass” and “You done died on me!” at least 20 times a day. As for his choice of clothing, Coach typically wears maroon pants, a gold or white LH shirt, an old towel on his head, and a hat that he keeps half way up instead of pushing it all the way down. His players think he’s superstitious about his hat and towel because he refuses to get a new towel (even though it’s currently tinted yellow with sweat) or sport the new hat he has hanging up in his office. Cameron Anderson and Ashley Kendal both suggest he wears these hard-to-miss accessories to block out the sun (no one wants a hat tan line!) and to absorb sweat, but neither one is sure…maybe Coach just likes the look. Mrs. Leatherwood apparently does.

            With his own personal style, his own way of talking, and his loud personality, there is no way to describe Coach Leatherwood as anything other than Coach Leatherwood. He is looked up to as a coach, a leader, and a role model. There is no question that he has definitely had a major impact on the student body, from his Drivers Ed students to his football players. Whether it’s because of this sonic boom voice, original phrases, or overall personality, Coach Leatherwood is definitely someone you can never forget, and we are lucky to have him here at Lake Hamilton.