Saint Michael's College

Leo was one of the early greats in Saint Michael’s Athletics history, serving as captain in ice hockey, tennis and football. While advocating for girls’ sports in an era when opportunities were more plentiful for boys, he became one of the most accomplished coaches in Vermont high school sports history. As a student-athlete, Leo made his greatest mark on the ice, captaining the Purple Knights to a 6-0-1 record during his junior and senior years. Four of his eight goals in those seasons were game-winners as he pushed Saint Michael’s to its first two state championships, potting a hat trick during a 3-1 win over UVM to secure the initial title in 1923. Leo later became a long-time coach and educator in Northern Vermont’s Franklin County. Between three schools, he posted a career record of 670-216-9 across five sports - baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ ice hockey, and boys’ tennis - over 27 years. His teams won three state crowns and more than three dozen regular-season and postseason league championships. In 1959, Leo was unanimously voted a life member of the Vermont State Coaches Association. He stayed involved at his alma mater long after graduating, serving as the first secretary/treasurer of the Franklin County Chapter of the Saint Michael’s Alumni Association when it was founded in 1930.