Rutgers women’s soccer head coach Glenn Crooks announced the addition of Kevin Leacock to his staff, Tuesday. Leacock joins the Scarlet Knights after a head coaching stint at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and is a former Long Island University and Trinidad and Tobago standout.
Currently serving as the assistant coach with the U17 US Girls National Team, Leacock will assist in all aspects of the growth and development of the RU goalkeepers.
“I have known Kevin since my days at LIU when he was a student there,” said Crooks. “He established himself with distinction at LIU and continued on a path that has led to many great experiences in coaching, including the U17 US Women’s National team. Kevin is an excellent motivator and will push our keepers to be at their best each day. I am thrilled by his addition to our staff.”
“I am very excited to be invited into the women’s soccer program by Coach Crooks,” said Leacock. “It is a great opportunity to be part of a nationally recognized program and my goal is to contribute in a way that helps to achieve our goals of a BIG EAST and National Championship.”
A former Long Island University co-captain at center back and netminder, Leacock worked at NJIT for six seasons – three as the assistant coach and three at the helm of the Highlanders. He assisted NJIT in the transition from Division II to Division I. He finished his stint with a 13-38-4 record as head coach, including a 7-9-2 record in 2009 when the squad went 4-1-1 in the Great West and notched a first place finish in the East Division.
With the U17 Girls National Team, Leacock trains, tests and evaluates goalkeepers while collaborating with the head coach on player meetings and interviews.
An international player for his native Trinidad and Tobago, Leacock played four years of college soccer at LIU, where he is a 1999 graduate, magna cum laude. Winning the Scholar Athlete Award (1998) and the Colin Fowles Memorial Award – MVP (1995), the Blackbirds won the Northeast Conference Championship in 1997 with Leacock at center back. With Trinidad & Tobago, Leacock saw action in the Pan American Games (1994) and Central American & Caribbean Games (1993).