DELL LEONARD – MOUNTAIN HOME (AR) HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL HEAD COACH – EPISODE 719

Website – https://highschool.mhbombers.com/o/mhhs/page/sports

Email – dleonard@mhbombers.com

Twitter – @coachleonard

Dell Leonard has been the Mountain Home (Arkansas) High School Girl’s Varsity Basketball Coach for the past 25 seasons.  The Lady Bomber Basketball Team has reached the State Playoffs 22 times during his 25 years as Head Coach.  During Dell’s time as the Girl’s Basketball Coach, the Lady Bombers have reached the Final Four in the Arkansas State Playoffs 8 times.  

Coach Leonard attended North Arkansas Community College in Harrison, Arkansas from 1987-1990 and joined the United States Marine Corp in 1992.  He was an active duty Marine for two years, and then entered the Marine Corps Reserves from 1994-2002. 

In 1995 Coach Leonard graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR with a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree. In 2004, he earned his Master of Science in Education Degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.  During his time as a student at North Arkansas Community College and Ouachita Baptist University, he was a four year letterman on the baseball team.  

Dell has coached other sports besides basketball throughout his career at Mountain Home.  He was an assistant coach on the 1997 5A State Championship Bomber Baseball Team and in 2008 and 2010 as the Head Softball Coach, he led the Lady Bomber Softball Team to the 6A State Championship.  Coach Leonard was also the Mountain Home Head Boys and Girls Golf Coach from 2015-2018 and from 2020 to the present.   

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Grab a notebook and pen so you’re prepared to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Dell Leonard, Girls’ Varsity Head Coach at Mountain Home High School in the state of Arkansas.

What We Discuss with Dell Leonard

• How he got the girls’ job at Mountain Home (AR) High School
• Why Sundays are his favorite coaching days
• His biggest superstition
• The funniest practice moment in his career
• Why he’s playing a more up tempo pressing style this season
• Hearing players talk about the impact his coaching has had on their lives
• “You have to develop that coach player relationship at a high level so that they are comfortable talking to you.”
• Why listening is so important as a male coaching girls
• Have a great female assistant coach on your staff as a male coaching girls
• Pre-game walkthroughs and being relaxed on game day
• His family’s love for the players and his own minor “celebrity” status
• The respect he has for coaches in his area that do things the right way
• His advice for young coaches
  • Don’t worrry about the x’s and o’s
  • Don’t be friends with parents
  • Find a mentor
• The quest for the “perfect” game

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THANKS, DELL LEONARD

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TRANSCRIPT FOR DELL LEONARD – MOUNTAIN HOME (AR) HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL HEAD COACH – EPISODE 719

[00:00:00] Mike Klinzing: Hello and welcome to the Hoop Heads Podcast. It’s Mike Klinzing here without my co-host Jason Sunkle tonight. But I am pleased to welcome back to the Hoop Heads Pod for his second go round with us. Dell Leonard from Mountain Home High School in the state of Arkansas. The girls varsity head basketball coach.  Dell, welcome back!

[00:00:17] Dell Leonard: Thanks Mike. I appreciate you having me.

[00:00:21] Mike Klinzing: Excited to have you on.  We’re going to do a little speed round. It’ll be something different. This’ll be something new. Dell. We’re going to be able to dive in and do something completely. You’re going to break new ground for us. So before we do that though, give us a quick hitter for anybody who didn’t listen to your first episode.  A quick 30 seconds on your background.

[00:00:36] Dell Leonard: Okay. I’ve been at Mountain Home High School here in Mountain Home Arkansas for 28 years. This is my 28th year. My high school coach was the boys coach. I got out of college and had a stint in the Marine Corps. And then when I was done with that, I contacted my high school coach.

He got me on as in any way he could just assistants to several different things helping him, helping the high school girls coach Janet Wood. She retired within three years after I had come on board. She encouraged me to apply for the girls job coaching girls basketball, which I never thought ever that I would do, and I ended up interviewing.  I got the job, and 28 years later, here I am.

[00:01:22] Mike Klinzing: First question, what is your favorite day of the coaching year?

[00:01:26] Dell Leonard: Favorite day of the coaching year is Sunday. And why? Because it’s it gives me a chance to get to school. We have to practice on Sundays because we travel so far, our shortest travel game is three hours one way in our conference.

That’s our conference and that starts in January and February. And the reason why Sunday’s my favorite day is because I can get to school and prepare for practice early that day and watch film and I don’t feel rushed. I got plenty of time and usually I feel really prepared going into practice.

[00:02:02] Mike Klinzing: Makes sense.

I think when, as many of us know, no matter what profession you’re in, but certainly as coaches, definitely being pressed for time. So when you think about the opportunity to sit down and be able to really plan and catch your breath and go into it fully prepared, I can see where. That is a day that, man, you probably look forward to each and every week, especially once you get to that conference season.

[00:02:23] Dell Leonard: It really is, there’s so many things that we think of every night. Oh, we have to cover this tomorrow. We do that and all that does is that gives me that little extra time where I can dot those i’s and cross those t’s.

[00:02:37] Mike Klinzing: All right. Next question. Your biggest superstition, do you have a superstition?

[00:02:43] Dell Leonard: Oh gosh, playing college baseball. I probably got a lot of ’em. I would say if we win a big game wearing a certain shirt or pants or whatever, as silly as that sounds, I tend go back to that same outfit. I guess.

[00:02:58] Mike Klinzing: I think you’re not alone in that. I’m sure there are lots of coaches that have some article of clothing, let’s put it that way, that becomes lucky as you go on a winning streak. Funniest thing that’s ever happened in a practice?

[00:03:10] Dell Leonard: Oh gosh. Our high school principal at the time who was actually one of our assistant superintendents now she had a little boy who would get off the bus with my daughter. They were probably, I don’t know, third, fourth grade.

And they would come into practice because we went a little bit after school. So once they got off the bus, they’d come to practice. And he was a character and he used to get on his little scooter and ride around the gym, which he didn’t bother us at all. And I was squatted down, really intent on the sideline watching a five on five session of us putting in some man entries for half court.

And we had stopped and the girls were all staring at me and I was talking and giving instruction and he decided, He wanted to go full bore and tackle me while I was squatting on the floor. And it was quite a moment.

[00:04:07] Mike Klinzing: Those are the ones that you live for, right?

That everybody who was there in that gym on that day is probably still telling that story.

[00:04:15] Dell Leonard: Every time I see ’em, every time I see ’em.

[00:04:19] Mike Klinzing: I believe it. All right. Next question. What’s the newest thing that you’ve added to your coaching toolbox in the last year? Is there something that you’re doing differently?

Something whether it’s actually on the Xs and O’s side, whether it’s culture, whether it’s just something you’ve read, is there something that you’ve added to your repertoire in the last year?

[00:04:38] Dell Leonard: No doubt about it. When I was working Snow Valley in 2017, I met Dave Severns with the Clippers and I never will forget him saying, I can’t remember who asked the question, but somebody asked, what would you do different if you were coaching in high school again?

And he said, I would press. From tip to buzzer, and I’d shoot a lot of threes and we have never been deep enough. I’ve always wanted to do that since then. And you could pick and choose different little moments, but we’ve never had enough depth on the bench to press like that. I’ve always wanted to and this year we have a really nice group and a lot of sophomores that can play and sometimes in girls sophomores can have much more of an impact than sophomore boys. And so we’re probably about nine or 10 11 deep right now, and I have committed to that and we are having a lot of fun.

Players don’t stand on the side. Kids get conditioning with the ball. I love it. I love the tempo. I love what we’re doing. And we’re shooting a lot of threes, but we’re also not getting the three point flu. We’re trying to get two feet to the paint, get to the rim, get to the free throw line, and then play off that with getting open threes.

And it’s fun, the kids are having fun and when you’re having to walk it up and face five and play a controlled game, it’s hard to involve a lot of kids and keep ’em entertained and interested, and you have to get creative to do that. But now it’s just, hey, this is what we’re doing and we build up and we get into it.

And also in Arkansas, we have the 30 second shot clock, so we’re definitely going uptempo. So I would say that tempo is something that is the new thing for us right now.

[00:06:17] Mike Klinzing: All right. Next question. What’s your favorite off the court moment? If you can, obviously, I’m sure there’s a ton. When you ask that question, what’s the first thing that pops into your head as an off the court moment that sticks with you?

[00:06:31] Dell Leonard:   Man, I would have to say that when we have our banquet and our seniors speak there’s not one particular player or one particular comment that I could say stands out over any of the others. Just when you hear them say thank you for not accepting our second best effort and thank you.

It’s like we had our Hall of Fame banquet a couple of weeks ago here at Mountain Home and I used to coach softball and our 2006, our 2008 and 2010 team went into the Hall of Fame and I know we’re talking about softball players, but these girls also played basketball for me and for them to say coach, you always said that every coach should have the goal to help young people become successful in life and, and you did that for us and that it means a lot. And just hearing those girls recognize that and their parents recognize that is really special. But those moments from those players, I would say would be my favorite.

[00:07:44] Mike Klinzing: Next question. What’s your best piece of advice for a male coach who is coaching a girls’ basketball team?

[00:07:52] Dell Leonard:  Listen… but before you get to that point, you have to develop that coach player relationship at a high level so that they are comfortable talking to you. And if they’re not comfortable talking to you, you better figure ’em out as people where you can listen without them saying a word and you better invest in them, you know?

When I first got the job, I coached girls just like boys. The thing about girls is they’ll run through a wall for you and they’re super loyal, but they just have to know why. And I’m not so sure that all athletes aren’t that way today, but I just think you have to listen. You have to have a ton of energy and bring the energy.

It’s your job to bring the energy every day and understand what makes each of them tick. Care about ’em. I mean, girls are wired differently and some of ’em do need to be challenged as far as verbally at times. And that’s what, and some of them, when you develop that core relationship, that really good relationship with ’em, they’ll tell you, coach, I need that.

I need you to get on me pretty good and push me. That’s what gets me going. And then also that trust where one says, that doesn’t work for me. And just figuring out, especially with females, what works for them individually and then really trying to develop that team bonding and where they really care about each other because some people think that’s really difficult with girls, but it’s not. It’s really not. That’s really what they feed on and that’s what they want. And so you have to create those situations where they are coming up with solutions and answers together. And you have to go above and beyond to have team dinners, to have get togethers, to put them in situations where they’re growing internally, but they don’t even realize it.

And then make ’em think it’s their idea. But listen. And bring energy every day.

[00:09:51] Mike Klinzing: Yeah. I think you have to give ’em that space, right? To be able to create those relationships. I think that’s the key is you have to put that type of environment in place. And when you do that, then you get to see those relationships and, and the types of things that you’re talking about.

You get to see those things flourish.

[00:10:07] Dell Leonard:  And Mike, can I say one more thing? Get a really good female assistant. That’s huge because it might take them a little bit before they really talk to you, but they’ll be a lot more comfortable talking to her. But it better be someone you can trust, right?

Better be loyal. But if you get a really good female assistant, she can keep a lot of problems from ever even developing.

[00:10:33] Mike Klinzing: Excellent point. And I think one that’s very well taken.  Let’s go from a serious question to a less serious question. Do you have a go-to pre-game meal? For you, not for your players, for you?

[00:10:43] Dell Leonard: No, it’s usually just trying to get something to eat whenever I can. You know, for me, like we, for road games, it’s wherever we stop again, we travel so far that we have to stop and feed ’em. So it’s wherever we stop at home, a lot of times. Our athletic director’s wife cooks a really big meal for the coaches and they’ll have a nice spread in the athletic office.

But right now my pre-game meal will be something that’s low carb because I’m trying to lose some weight so I can actually enjoy the season.

[00:11:14] Mike Klinzing: I’m sure you’re not alone in that goal out there. What is your favorite game day tradition? You can take that question. Whatever way you want to go with it.

[00:11:25] Dell Leonard: Just walk through… it’s not intense. You know, we’ve done our work, the hays in the barn, so to speak. It’s just getting out there, I learned when I was younger, I was probably too wound too tight. And I think the kids can see that and it affects their play.

And now it’s like, we’ve done our job, we’ve done our work, we’ve worked really hard. We have absolutely prepared. Now let’s go take advantage of an opportunity. And a lot of times my wife is my assistant and she talking about having a good female coach, a great female coach, she makes all the difference in the world.

And literally I’ll let her go through the shooting drills, maybe even handle some of the walkthroughs and. You won’t ever see me sitting down in practice unless it’s a walkthrough, and the whole purpose for me sitting over there and kind of crossing my legs and having a side conversation with the athletic director is just to let them know I’m relaxed.

I’m confident. We’re prepared. Let’s go.

[00:12:29] Mike Klinzing: Next one. What’s been the most fun part of it for your family? When you think about them being a part of your coaching life, what do they enjoy the most about you being a coach?

[00:12:43] Dell Leonard: I think they love the kids, the players become part of their family and it doesn’t matter if it’s my brother in Little Rock especially with livestream today.

And which is one of the very few things we got out of Covid, but it’s the live streaming and he can watch the games and used to listen to ’em on the radio, which is a great thing to have. Cause a lot of schools don’t have that. But the fact that they embrace it, they love it.

I don’t know, this is kind of, sounds kind of cheesy, and I don’t expect it from them, but it’s almost like sometimes that feel like that being the coach of such a great program and such a great school, They almost feel like it’s like a celebrity status. So yeah, I don’t expect that from them.

Right. But still for them to think of their brother or their son or uncle I mean, that’s pretty cool for them to put you there even though you don’t feel that way or you don’t expect them to feel that way.

[00:13:54] Mike Klinzing: Looking back over the course of your career, Opposing coach or team have you had the most, and again, this question, there’s probably a lot of answers here, have you had the most respect for, or the most friendly rivalry where you’re friends with that coach but you respect the heck out of what they do.

But every time you get on the floor with them, you want to compete? Is there a particular coach or a particular school that fits that bill for.

[00:14:25] Dell Leonard: Oh gosh, right now, I mean, Carla Crowder, who was at c Darrell Fi at North Little Rock, who I thinks actually been on, or we’ve talked about him being on the show.

I know this next lady has Leslie Henderson now from Watson Chapel. Preston Early. From Rogers Vic Rimmer from Fayetteville, Ricky Smith from Northside. I would put all of those people in that category and I know that I’m missing somebody.  I’m Clay Reeves from Greenwood. I mean, it’s just unbelievable.

Of course, you have to 28 years and some of those have either retired or about to retire. We kind of came in together and cut our teeth. Just had some wars, but they’re just a tremendous mutual respect there. And I tell you, it’s not just the respect for the coach, but as you, you alluded to the way their kids carry themselves, the way they play the game.

That’s what I respect. I mean, we’ve played a lot of teams that were good and a lot of teams that I like the coaches and I’m friends with ’em, but I did not respect the way their kids acted, but those people that I just mentioned, and I could go on and I could tell you a lot more Sherry White, who we were at some wars with Harrison it’s just, gosh, you go on and on and on.

But that for me is what you said, the mutual respect. Cause you know how hard they work. You know what they demanded their kids, they uphold a high standard and their kids definitely represent their school and their community and their team and their families the right way.

[00:15:58] Mike Klinzing: If you had an opportunity to sit down with a coach who has just graduated from college and they’re getting into the coaching profession and they’re a young coach, they’re going to take over a program for the first time.

If you had to give them a piece or two of advice that you think would get ’em off on the right foot, what would be that piece or two of advice that would help them get started?

[00:16:21] Dell Leonard: Well, as a young coach, You don’t need to worry about Xs and Os cause those are out there everywhere. You’re going to learn those and you just have to figure out what works for you.

But number one, first and foremost being a young coach, every parent is going to try to be your friend. And you can be friendly with ’em, but you cannot be their friend while their kid’s playing for you. You can’t go play golf with ’em. You can’t go fishing with ’em. Can’t go out to eat with ’em and, and The number one thing is you can be friendly with ’em, but you tell ’em, and even if they’re kids in the first grade and you stay at a school for 20 years, when that kid gets to high school, you’re going to have to, during that time, quit doing things with ’em because it doesn’t work that way.

And so I would just say that, and then I would say find yourself a mentor, an older coach, whether it’s in college or someone that’s older that wants to give back. and hook into them and have ’em on speed dial. Go watch their practices. Go sit down and do chalk talks with ’em and just have ’em on the phone where if something comes up, you don’t know how to handle it, you better be able to call ’em.

[00:17:33] Mike Klinzing: Last question. What is the one thing in your coaching career that hasn’t happened yet that you are still looking forward to the day when it does?

[00:17:46] Dell Leonard: Well, I think that just about everybody would say win a state championship, right? I would say the perfect game. I don’t think you’re ever going to shoot a hundred percent from the field, but maybe a game where you don’t have any turnovers.

A great balance in getting to the rack and getting to the free throw line and creating rhythm threes, not missing a rotation on defense, not missing a block out. That would be something I would wish for.

[00:18:18] Mike Klinzing: Dell, we have just completed the very first Hoop Heads Pod speed round. I don’t know who had more of a challenge in the speed round, you or me especially because I wasn’t necessarily planning on doing a speed round.

So I was speed rounding the questions in my own mind as you were answering the previous speed round question. So hopefully our audience will appreciate the fact that both of us were quick on our feet and try to think outside the box here. Dell’s second time on here. He’s been on numerous times with the coaches round table.

He’s one of our mentors in the mentorship program. So like we talked about, if you’re a young coach and you’re looking for a mentor, there’s nobody better out there than Dell Leonard. And again, Dell, before we get out, just share how people can connect with you real quick. And then I’ll jump back in and wrap it.

[00:19:06] Dell Leonard: You bet. My number is (870) 421-1090 and you can call or text, if you call and I don’t answer, I’ll get back to you, but I’d love to help however I can. I’ve had so many people that have been great to me that have given back. I want to follow their lead. My email is dleonard@mhbombers.com.

[00:19:38] Mike Klinzing: Dell, cannot thank you enough for being willing to jump on and just extend your day beyond your coaches meetings and practice and everything else that you have going on, it’s time for you to probably get home to your family. And again thank you enough for being a part of it. And I know that as we continue to grow, you’re always going to be one of the guys that’s the pillar of what we do. So again, thank you and to everyone out there, thanks for listening and we will catch you on our next episode. Thanks.