During the 2020/21 school year, the Boerne Independent School District proudly announced that legendary Boerne and Champion High School Coach and current Athletic Director Stan Leech had been named one of the Greatest Texas High School Basketball Coaches in history by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). The UIL unveiled their 100 Greatest Coaches list in celebration of 100 years of UIL Texas high school basketball. 

Coach Leech won 833 games in his storied 32-year coaching career, including 12 district championships and 27 playoff appearances, and he guided Boerne to the UIL state tournament in 1990 and 2008. He was the head boys’ basketball coach at Boerne High School for twenty-two seasons and the head boys’ basketball coach at Champion High School for ten seasons prior to retiring from coaching in 2018. Coach Leech is now in his 35th year at Boerne ISD, including his 22nd year as the district Athletic Director.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be named to this prestigious list by the UIL,” Coach Leech said. “To be recognized like this is simply amazing. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to coach many great young men at both Boerne and Champion. I would not be here today without the wonderful student-athletes that I coached, as well as my Assistant Coaches throughout the years. This is simply awesome. Thank you to the UIL for this tremendous honor.” 

Boerne ISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Price added, “The UIL could not have selected a better person than Coach Leech for this tremendous recognition. Coach Leech is very well respected, not only in Boerne, but across the state of Texas. He embodies everything that Boerne is, and is a wonderful ambassador for our district and our community. It is a true joy to have him be such an important part of our district and our storied history.”

Coach Leech is a natural educator with a dynamic personality and terrific sense of humor. We wanted to know what his coaching approach was that made him such a success, and we also found out what he learned along the way.

How would you describe your coaching style?

All coaches’ styles change throughout their lives — I progressed through being married, then married with children, and I coached as a grandparent and I changed again. It has to do with maturity. And the longer I coached, the more empathy I had for the players, parents, administration and other coaches. I was also a players’ coach. At timeout, I would ask the five guys, “What do you think?” Well, unless I was set on doing it a certain way!

How do you encourage students to excel in their sport as well as in the classroom?

As a coach for 32 years, I was very fortunate to have parents who made that a priority and instilled that value anyway. These kids get encouragement at school and at home. Being an educator for 40 years, I know that coaches are good classroom teachers as well. We enforce respect for teachers — they are your BOSS. Be present with what they have to say. Also, it’s no pass, no play — it’s how you stay eligible.

Why do you think playing sports is important?

I want to say that all extracurricular activities are important. When a current topic these days is mental health, we all have to feel valued. Athletics is important but let’s find an activity for everyone — band, choir, FFA, stock show, etc. Extracurricular activities are an extension of life. It’s extra. It’s how we gain value, confidence, how we get our swagger about us. If we don’t find something extra to do, we lose them.

What are your hobbies outside of BISD?

I walk in the mornings about three miles — most mornings! I love everything about golf. I’m not very good — I have a 19 handicap and that’s good for me. It means its summer and I’m playing a lot! I try to play about five times a month.

Since 1992, I have taught an adult couples Sunday School Class. I love preparing for it and it’s where I get a lot of relationships.

Coach Leech is married to Carla Leech who taught at the elementary level for 31 years before retiring in 2015. Together, they have two adult children, Courtney and Coby, and one grandson, Jack Wells. He concludes, “Ultimately, it’s how we love the Hill Country and Boerne, and our success has to do with where we are. This place attracts wonderful people. I was very fortunate to have great players, parents and administrators.”