Read the press release (pdf)

Recently-retired Macalester women's soccer coach John Leaney was among some of Minnesota's most inspiring and influential student-athletes, coaches and athletic leaders, who were recognized at an award ceremony on Wednesday, February 3, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. The award ceremony was conducted in conjunction with the 24th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Coach Leaney was one of four recipients of the Special Merit Award.

Leaney coached the Macalester women's soccer team for 21 years and won 299 games. Coach Leaney came to Macalester as head men's soccer coach in 1986 and two years later also took control of the women's program, which went on to win the NCAA Division III national championship in 1998 and finish second the following year. He gave up his men's coaching duties to concentrate on the women's team in 2006.