PHOTO GALLERYBill Leete was hired as Director of Athletics at the University of New Haven in February of 1981, beginning a 12-year tenure at the post and a career at the University that spanned more than 30 years.
In his first few years, Leete led the Chargers into the newly formed New England Collegiate Conference and helped to guide the football program into Division II, establishing the tradition of success that continues today. Under his leadership, the women’s basketball program won the 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship as a standard bearer for the accomplishments achieved throughout the department of athletics.
During Leete’s time as Director of Athletics, the Chargers baseball team advanced to eight College World Series and made 11 total NCAA appearances, while the women’s volleyball team made three Elite Eight trips and a total of nine NCAA postseason appearances. In addition, Leete’s tenure included a 1984 NCAA Semifinal appearance for men’s soccer and the first four NCAA postseason trips for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Once one of the youngest head football coaches in nation at Hofstra, Leete helped to guide New Haven football to new heights as an administrator. The Chargers enjoyed eight consecutive winning seasons during his tenure, culminating with the 1992 campaign when UNH defeated the University of Connecticut and went on a 12-game winning streak all the way to the NCAA National Semifinals.
Under Leete’s leadership, the department of athletics as a whole participated in 29 NCAA tournaments, recorded a remarkable 1,746 wins and won over 65 percent of its games.
During his time as Director of Athletics, Leete founded the University of New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame and the Charger Classic golf outing – two events that have become annual traditions of Charger athletics. He also served on the executive committee of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, spending 17 years as chair of the ECAC Officiating Committee. Leete was also chair of the NCAA Division II Regional Football Committee and served as commissioner of the New England Collegiate Conference from 1984-90.
In addition to his role as Director of Athletics, Leete served as the acting Dean of Student Life before being promoted in 1993 to Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics. After a 13-year stint, Leete was named the University’s Vice President for Facilities in 2006. In that role, he successfully oversaw numerous construction projects on campus, including the completion of the David A. Beckerman Recreation Center.
From 2007-13, Leete served as special assistant for athletics advancement and outreach to University President Steven Kaplan. In this role, he spearheaded fundraising efforts for all 16 Charger Athletics Teams and helped complete capital projects at both Kayo Field and DellaCamera Stadium.
Bill Leete was recognized by the ECAC with its Distinguished Achievement Award in 1992. He has also been honored by the University of Vermont Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and was given the Distinguished Charger Award at the 2006 Charger Huddle. In 2014, he was enshrined into the Athletics Hall of Fame that he founded.
