David Leach, left, stands next to Nevada football coach Jeff Choate during a summer practice. Leach is a first-year coach for Central Methodist University after growing up and playing football for Dayton and Carson High Schools.
David Leach has been determined to stay attached to the game of football, even if it hasn’t been easy.
Leach nearly had his senior season in high school stripped from him after Dayton High canceled its 2019 season.
Instead, Leach was one of four Dust Devils players allowed an exemption to play for Carson as a senior.
It didn’t result in a massive breakout. In fact, Leach remembers hardly any scouts coming to talk to him while with the Dust Devils or the Senators.
However, some looming interest from Feather River College allowed Leach to continue his dream.
Leach considered a chance to play at the next level a blessing and took advantage of his time in Quincy, Calif., before transferring to Lincoln University in Oakland, Calif.
With Lincoln, he had a chance to compete under some bright lights against Div. I schools such as Kennesaw State on ESPN.
A play he made against Kennesaw impressed Fallon native and opposing assistant coach Chris Klenakis to the point where Klenakis helped Leach get connected with his current program. Klenakis is now an assistant coach with Vanderbilt.
Leach spent his final season with Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo., competing at the NAIA level, concluding his last campaign with 40 tackles in 11 games played.
As his on-the-field career ended, Leach was hoping he’d have a chance to get into the end zone.
“I prayed, and I asked for a touchdown to continue pursuing football, and the next day, I scored a touchdown, so I kept pursuing it,” said Leach. “The coaching staff (at Central Methodist) asked me to come join them. And, you know, it wasn't even a second thought.”
(Central Methodist defensive assistant David Leach talks to the Carson High School football team during a summer workout. Leach spent his senior season playing for the Senators before going on to play at Feather River College. / Courtesy David Leach)
FINDING HIS PIPELINE
Growing up in Northern Nevada and with his own experiences in football, Leach remembered the lack of college coaches and scouts at his practices.
As a defensive assistant with Central Methodist, Leach is determined to give the same athletes whom he grew up around a chance to continue their passion for football, even if it’s far from home.
“I kind of felt I was, you know, very overlooked,” said Leach of his high school playing days. “There wasn't that much of opportunity. I never had a scout come to my practice. Now I'm kind of in a position to change that for guys.”
His summer so far has been spent on the turf as Leach has traveled back to Carson and Dayton for camps and ventured down to Douglas High School to meet the Tiger team and coaching staff.
He didn’t stop there, working his way through multiple schools in Reno and making a stop with the Wolf Pack during one of their summer camps, as well.
Recruiting is a new beast for Leach, but hustle isn’t.
“It kind of adds a different kind of motivation when kids see that college is an opportunity for them,” said Leach, “you know — the scout's watching.”
Leach will venture into California, too, in hopes of getting the best talent he can find to commit to Central Methodist, which is coming off three consecutive 1-10 seasons.
An opportunity to continue competing was all Leach wanted when he was leaving high school and he’s hopeful he can make those dreams a reality for Northern Nevada prep athletes.
“When I was playing football around here, a lot of guys, I thought, were really good,” said Leach. “They just stopped playing football. They never went on to pursue college because they never got looked at or they just didn't think it was an option. So, you know, I'm kind of kind of changing that.”
(David Leach chats with the Douglas High School football team in June. Leach, who played football for Carson and Dayton, is now a defensive assistant with Central Methodist after finishing up his playing days. / Courtesy David Leach)
DRAWN TO COACHING
Leach graduated from Central Methodist this past spring and his role as a defensive assistant will be his first foray into the coaching scene.
While he may have some inexperience as a coach, the desire to help youth players grow with the sport is a necessity to spending long hours in the sun.
“What's kind of really helped me with coaching is, you know, playing all those years of college football,” said Leach. “We're a rebuilding program. I think the talent is good in Northern Nevada and these guys could come in and help us win.”
His interests don’t solely lie on making his own program better. He knows a rising tide lifts all boats.
“With me giving out offers to guys, that's helping them get more looks from other small schools,” said Leach. “I was their first offer. (Now) they're getting other NAIA offers, Division II, Division III offers. That’s my goal, too. It’s not just to get a bunch of guys out here from my school. It’s also to come out here and help as many guys as I can so that they can continue playing.”
His ideal recruit is one that, put simply, loves the game of football.
While a recruit’s physical size might limit other programs’ interest, it’s not a disqualifier for Leach, who knows there’s plenty more to factor in.
He nearly lost his senior season of football, which could’ve altered his path.
He’s hopeful Northern Nevada athletes know they’ve got a local face they can look at as an example of what one more opportunity can mean.
“Going to Dayton High, and just having it, you know, taken away that year. I was like, ‘Well, I'm not ready to stop playing football,’” said Leach. “It was awesome how it worked out. It all kind of led to this moment, where I'm able to come back and give back and give guys opportunities.”