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Coach passionate about AFL game

by John Hahn
February 2, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze


When Lee Leslie put the pads back on in 1997, little did he realize how exciting and entertaining the game of football could be. There were several differences, however, Lee was 36 years old then and he had not played football competitively since his days at Southern Utah University.

But the biggest difference was the fact that this time around on the gridiron; the game was inside an arena on a 50-yard carpet.

"It was then that I just fell in love with the indoor game," said Leslie, who now is the assistant head coach of the Utah Blaze, the newest entry in the Arena Football League for the 2006 season.

Leslie, who had overcome some injuries from his college days, said in the first game, with the old Utah Catzz of the defunct IPFL, he threw for five touchdowns. He was hooked.

"It was a real opportunity and since then I have used that in a positive manner as a motivational thing in my coaching."

BEGINS CAREER IN SALT LAKE CITY AREA

The now 45-year-old Leslie has 19 ½ years as a head coach, 17 of those at the high school level coach. He had started at Tooele High School in Salt Lake City when he was 25 and took the 3A school to a region title in his first season.

He later moved to Hillcrest High where in four of the seven years took the school into the 5A playoffs. He had 11 of his players enroll at the University of Utah on scholarships.

Stepping back from coaching to spend more time with his children was a priority until his two boys were playing football. "I wanted to be a dad first," he said.

Leslie knew what it was like to not have a father...and also his mother. Five hours after his birth, his mother died from complications of a blood clot. His father left shortly thereafter for the war in Viet Nam.

Lee and along with his brother, Danny, and sister, Susie, were placed in an orphanage for a short period of time. His mother's parents, Ken and Helen Leslie, then took custody and adopted them, changing their names to Leslie.

After high school, he attended Southern Utah University where he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in physical education and health.

COACHED SOME ‘HIGH PROFILE' PLAYERS

In 2000, he was a grad assistant at Utah and assisted the late Fred Whittingham with the linebackers and "also ran the scout "O" for our defense." It was then that Leslie worked with both quarterback Brett Elliott, who transferred to Division III Linfield College and led the Wildcats to an NCAA championship title a year ago, and Elliott's former high school teammate linebacker Tommy Hackenbruck.

Elliott was a starter with the Utes until he was injured and Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers first round draft choice this past year, stepped in to call signals.

"I missed coaching, and wanted to coach my boys," he said, moving back to Tooele High where he won four region titles and one State championship.

Leslie had 69 of his high school players go on to the next level (college) and four into the NFL including Jerry Montgomery (OL, Iowa and New Orleans Saints), Josh Savage (DE, Utah and Tampa Bay/ Atlanta), Scott Young (DE, BYU and Philadelphia Eagles), and Andy Bowers (DL, Utah, and Arizona Cardinals).

GUIDES UTAH WARRIORS' SUCCESS

In 2002, while still at Tooele, Leslie got three friends together, including Doug Tate, Gabe Griffin and Mike Berg. "We were just four regular guys looking to do something for the community," he said of the upstart Utah Warriors who made their home in the E-Center in West Valley City.

In the first season (2003), Leslie, who was the head coach and general manager, directed the team to a 15-2 record and a date in the National Indoor Football League's ‘Indoor Bowl' against the Ohio Valley Greyhounds in Wheeling, West Virginia.

"The finances were tough, especially because of the E-Center lease ($15,000 a game)," Leslie said. "But, we attracted 6 to 7,000 a game and felt good about that. We were giving these guys a chance to play."

As things got tougher the following year (2004), three games into the season, Leslie realized he needed some financial help. "Al I was concerned about in the second year was keeping the guys on the field," he said. "We didn't have quite as good a level of player that second season...I was pulling guys off the street to keep it going."

GARFF FAMILY MAKES AFL COMMITMENT

Leslie then met John Garff, COO/President of Ken Garff Enterprises, who jumped in a kept the Warriors going in that second season.

A conversation shortly after the 2004 season resulted in discussion of seeking an Arena Football League team. "The conversation led to us going to New York as a group and meeting with AFL commissioner David Baker," Leslie said. "It was a very successful and positive meeting."

At almost the same time, the Arizona Rattlers new ownership had decided to let their only coach in team history go...Danny White, who had led the Rattlers to three AFL championships and into the ArenaBowl the previous three seasons.

"I went to Phoenix to meet with him and lay out our proposal on putting a franchise in Salt Lake City," Lee said.

It was a ‘no brainer' since White had built the Rattlers into one of the premier organizations in the 20 year old league. White jumped at the chance and came on board.

"I am so grateful to the Garff's for the opportunity to be involved in this project," said Leslie. "Arena Football is a ball. I love these kids that play the game because they are so hungry and just love to play the game."

THANKFUL FOR OPPORTUNITES

"The Garff family has treated me like gold from the start," said Leslie, who has done everything at the ‘minor league' level of indoor football. "I've pushed myself hard on the X and O's...and already have learned a lot from Danny."

Last year, Leslie served as a consultant to Tri-Cities. He recommended players and helped interim head coach Dan Whitsett after the original coach resigned in early July. With the caliber of player upgraded, thanks to Leslie, the Fever went on to charge into the playoffs and ultimately win the NIFL championship.

Leslie has had a significant influence at nearly every level of football he has been involved with in the past years. Don't expect anything less from him with the Utah Blaze.

Along with the staff and players coach White and Leslie have brought in, the Blaze will certainly be competitive from the opening kickoff.

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Special for the Utah Blaze

(John F. Hahn is a former executive with two AFL teams and has been involved with the league for 10 years. He has written extensively about the AFL for football web sites and publications.)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 2, 2006


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