Wednesday, April 30, 2008
By Pete Mollica
YOUNGSTOWN — After 21 years in the coaching profession Steve Leslie feels it is time to take a break.
Leslie, who has been the boys basketball coach at Cardinal Mooney High School for the past three seasons, resigned his position last week at the school’s board meeting.
“Obviously it was a very difficult decision,” Leslie said. “I [ played] here at Mooney and I’ve coached both basketball and baseball here. Everyone from Sister Jane [Kudlacz, the principal] to [athletic director] Don Bucci have been so good to me which made it even a tougher decision.
“I really just want to spend more time with my family,” Leslie said. “After 21 years of coaching I want to be with them more. My kids are young and starting to get involved in other sports and activities and I just want to be able to go and watch them.”
Leslie was a standout quarterback at Mooney and also an outstanding basketball player.
He served 13 years as an assistant basketball coach and then was the boys basketball coach at Ursuline High for three seasons.
He returned to Mooney as the baseball coach, which he served three seasons before taking over the basketball position.
“I’m never going to say that I wouldn’t do it again some day, but right now the only thing I want to do it go and watch my kids play and I’m excited about that,” Leslie said.
The Cardinals were 11-10 last season under Leslie and finished 3-2 in the Steel Valley Conference.