Inductees

Teamwork. That’s the way Jon Leamy describes the success of his career.

The wins as Missouri State University’s longtime men’s soccer coach? Those were churned out by hard-working, dedicated players. The game plans? Developed by extremely committed, passionate coaches. And the longevity of the program? Credit the administration, from the presidents to the athletic directors and many in between, for continual support and belief in the program.

“There are so many people who were and are involved in our Bears Soccer story,” Leamy emphasized.

Certainly, but the one constant of MSU men’s soccer has been Leamy, who led the program for 30 years before retiring after the 2021 fall season. What a run it was, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Leamy with the Class of 2022.

The Bears made him the winningest coach of the Missouri Valley Conference, with a 309-189-66 record dating to 1992. Overall, they advanced to six NCAA Tournaments (1997, 1999, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2021), won 10 conference regular-season championships and three Valley tournaments.

Leamy and his assistants were honored eight times as the Valley Coaching Staff of the Year and five times as the Regional Staff of the Year.

Even better, he rode off into the sunset following one of the best stretches in program history, with a 47-5-1 record. The Bears won the Valley and reached the NCAA Tournament in each of his final three seasons, with the 2020 team reaching the Round of 16.

All this from a native of Ipswich, Mass., who was a four-year letterman at Roanoke (Va.) College and set out in 1982 to become a coach. Leamy connected with the game of soccer while growing up on the East Coast in the 1970s, when international stars such as Pele arrived in the United States to play professional soccer.

So how did he ever end up in the Ozarks? In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Leamy was an assistant at Illinois State when then-athletic director Ron Wellman, a good friend of then-Missouri State AD Bill Rowe (MSHOF Legend 2016), stopped in Leamy’s office.

“Ron said, ‘There’s an opportunity you’ve got to look at,” Leamy said. “And what an incredible opportunity it turned out to be!”

Missouri State first fielded a men’s varsity soccer team in 1981 following 14 seasons as a club sport. In 1992, Leamy became the Bears’ fourth coach in the program’s history following Dr. Frank “Doc” Dinka, Jan Stahle and Tom Howe.

“We always tried to preach team, team, team,” Leamy said. “Anyone who was a part of the program – whether they were players, coaches or support staff – they all made an impact.”

All told, 157 players earned All-Valley honors, including 19 combined in his final two seasons.

The program has had players win each of the Valley’s top awards – Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and Goalkeeper of the Year. Seven times a Bear was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bears have had 10 All-Americans and 26 Academic All-Americans. Over 25 players have gone on to professional soccer.

Leamy emphasized that numerous assistant coaches throughout the years were key to the program’s success. Many later went on to become coaches for pro, college, high school, club and youth soccer teams.

“Missouri State University men’s soccer is a great story that started as a club sport in the late 60s and has continued to grow on and off the field to where it is today,” Leamy said.

“We are honored and blessed to have so many incredible supporters, including students, alumni, boosters, faculty, staff and fans that get behind and support this program from near and afar,” Leamy said.

That’s been key. The support has allowed the program to expand its recruiting from regional players in Leamy’s early years to now all across the United States and overseas.

“We are so appreciative for everyone who helped make this program what it is – we would be no where without you,” Leamy added. “The program is in fantastic hands with coach Mike Seabolt and his staff, and we cannot wait to see the boys play this coming season.”

Three others have been huge to the success: Leamy’s wife, Diane, and sons Cody and Colton.

“They have been here from the beginning.” Leamy said. “It has been a wonderful 30 years at MSU and none of it would have been possible without their love, understanding and support.”