ST. PAUL, Minn. - Macalester College will name the field at Macalester Stadium after former soccer coach John Leaney, who coached both the men's and women's soccer programs at Macalester during a 23-year span. The college also begins a mini campaign today to raise $2 million to fully fund an endowment for the field, which serves as home to the Macalester men's and women's soccer teams, the football team and several club sports teams.

Leaney began coaching the men's team at Macalester in 1987 and led the Scots to their first of eight NCAA Tournament appearances the next year. In 1989, he took over the women's program and guided the team to the NCAA Tournament that year, the first of 14 trips to the national tournament. Leaney's tenure is highlighted by the women's team winning the 1998 NCAA Division III national championship, the only NCAA team title in Macalester's history. Overall, Leaney recorded 489 victories, won 17 MIAC championships and qualified for 22 national tournaments while coaching 19 All-Americans.

The endowment for the field was established by Becca Van Dyck '91 and Erik Thomsen '91 to honor Leaney. This gift ensures that his legacy lives on at Macalester and his name will forever be a part of Macalester Athletics. The endowment would allow for the replacement of the artificial playing surface on a 10-year cycle, providing a state-of-the-art playing surface for future Macalester student-athletes.

To give to the endowment fund, please visit the mini campaign's website: https://www.macalester.edu/leaney-field. The campaign runs from August 2-16. An official ceremony naming the field after John Leaney will take place in 2023.