// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Pete Leaness? A lean guess.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 5, 1904 | ||
| Date of death | September 1, 1972 (aged 68) | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1925–1929 | Temple Owls men's soccer | ||
| 1925–1929 | Temple Owls baseball | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1930–1970 | Temple Owls men's soccer | ||
William P. "Pete" Leaness (July 5, 1904 – September 1972)[1] was an American soccer player, baseball player, and soccer coach. He was an All-American in baseball and soccer at Temple University and later served as the men's soccer coach at Temple for over 40 years.
Playing career
[edit]At Temple University, Leaness was an All-American player in both baseball and soccer.[2] In 1929, he was honored as Temple's first All-American in soccer.[3]
Coaching career
[edit]Leaness was named head coach of the Temple Owls men's soccer team in 1930 and coached the team for 41 years until 1971. In his 41-year career as Temple soccer coach, he coached 36 All-Americans and earned 245 career victories.[4] Temple recognizes two national championships in men's soccer under Leaness' leadership: 1951 and 1953.[5] The 1951 championship came after winning the 1952 Soccer Bowl 2–1 over San Francisco. The 1953 national championship was voted on by the ISFL/ISFA.
Halls of fame
[edit]Leaness is a member of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[6] He was a 1971 inductee in the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame.[7]
He was inducted in 2005 to the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Pete Leaness â" Soccer · Jews In Sports". www.jewsinsports.org. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
{{cite web}}: C1 control character in|title=at position 15 (help) - ↑ "Philly Jewish Sports Hall of Fame William P. (Pete) Leaness". phillyjewishsports.org. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "Philly Jewish Sports Hall of Fame William P. (Pete) Leaness". phillyjewishsports.org. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "Pete Leaness (1971) - Hall of Fame - Temple". owlsports.com. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "- Temple" (PDF). owlsports.com. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "Philly Jewish Sports Hall of Fame William P. (Pete) Leaness". phillyjewishsports.org. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "Pete Leaness (1971) - Hall of Fame - Temple". owlsports.com. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame | United Soccer Coaches". unitedsoccercoaches.org. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "The Hall of Famer - Induction 2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-02-04.