Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/12/26
From Press Release
The National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (NILCA) will induct La Salle’s Bill Leahy in the 2026 Class of the NILCA Hall of Fame during its annual award dinner on Oct 17, 2026 at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho, NY.
A series of successes punctuates Coach Leahy’s HS coaching career. His high school teams at La Salle won 512 games, 5 state championships, and 23 Catholic League titles from 1992-2019. Currently, he is the 2nd-winningest high school Head Coach in PA HS history. Leahy is a member of the Eastern PA Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the La Salle College High Hall of Athletics. Leahy was also inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame.
Leahy’s overall record was a glittering 512-115. His teams won three PIAA championships (2009, 2013, 2019) and two Keystone Cup championships (2004, 2008). La Salle reached a state final in 9 of its last 17 years under Leagy’s guidance. He started the La Salle program from scratch in 1992.
According to statistics compiled by LaxRecords, Leahy was the 19th boys’ coach in the country to reach 500 wins when he achieved the milestone in 2019 with a victory over rival St. Joseph’s Prep.
Leahy’s final game as La Salle coach in 2019 resulted in a 7-5 win over Conestoga for the PIAA Class AAA championship at West Chester East. The Explorers won 14 of their last 15 games that year – including a memorable rally from a 6-goal fourth-period deficit in an 11-10 win (double overtime) over Garnet Valley in the semifinals.
Coach Leahy has served as the 2016 Team USA Assistant Manager/Coach of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Champions (Gold Medal) and was awarded the Graham Lester Spirit of Lacrosse Award (Team USA). Coach Leahy was also an evaluator for Team USA in 2020.
A 4-time Pennsylvania Coach of the Year, Coach Leahy has mentored 61 High school All-Americans, numerous collegiate players, including an NCAA Tewaaraton Award winner (Maryland’s Matt Rambo). Beyond the X’s and O’s, Coach Leahy has given back to the game, providing his expertise and guidance to numerous youth organizations – both in the Philly area as well as nationally.
A seasoned speaker, Coach Leahy has presented at the USA Lacrosse National Convention. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Eastern PA USA Lacrosse Chapter Hall of Fame. In 2004 and 2008, Coach Leahy guided the Explorers to PA state championships under the old Scholastic Lacrosse Association and he guided the team to PIAA titles in 2009, 2013 and 2019.
The NILCA is dedicated to supporting and educating Secondary School Lacrosse Coaches. Dating back to 1968, the NILCA has supported educational clinics, conventions, HS lacrosse record keeping and selected national Coach and Man of the Year awards.
