Leatherman retires from Bridgewater

In Bridgewater, Bridgewater College head basketball coach Bill Leatherman has announced his retirement after 23 years at the school.

The Charlottesville native was hired as the head coach at Bridgewater in 1985. He had a career record of 335-262 and won four Old Dominion Athletic Conference coach of the year awards.

A year later, Bridgewater won the 1987-88 ODAC championship and earned a berth to the NCAA Division III tournament — the school’s first-ever appearance in postseason play. That team finished with a 24-5 record, the best record during Leatherman’s tenure.

Bridgewater made two more trips to the NCAA tournament under Leatherman. The 1995-96 team earned an at-large bid and finished with an 18-10 record. The next season, the Eagles finished with a 21-8 record and advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Leatherman was named the ODAC Coach of the Year in 1987, 1989, 1996 and 2005. He was named the South Region Coach of the Year in 1987, 1988, 1996 and 2005. Following the 2005-06 season, Leatherman received the National Association of Basketball Coaches Guardians Award for Advocacy.

During his tenure at Bridgewater, Leatherman coached three All-Americans — Ramsey Yeatts, Dan Rush and Kyle Williford. His players earned recognition on the All-ODAC first team 17 times and the second team nine times.

Leatherman finishes his career with a record of 335-262. He has the most wins of any men’s basketball coach in Bridgewater history. He earned his 300th career win during the 2004-05 season when the Eagles defeated rival Eastern Mennonite. His final team at the school finished with a 13-13 record.

Leatherman started his coaching career in 1966 at Staunton River High in Moneta and began his college coaching career in 1979 as an assistant coach on Lou Campanelli’s staff at James Madison University.

In his six seasons at JMU, the Dukes competed in three consecutive NCAA tournaments, notching first-round wins over national powers Georgetown, Ohio State and West Virginia.