KNOWLEDGEABLE. EXPERIENCED. ACCURATE. INSIGHTFUL.

David C. Leach has over thirty years’ experience in higher education administration. In addition to his consulting work in higher education, Leach has been an adjunct instructor in Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management. He currently serves as an Assistant Dean at his alma mater, Temple University, where he is pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education administration.

Leach was the Director of Athletics at Bryn Athyn College (2019-2020), where he was charged with oversight of 13 NCAA Division III varsity sports. 

Preceding his time as Director of Athletics at Bryn Athyn, Leach served as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Recreation and Wellness at the University of Pennsylvania (2017-2019). At Penn, Leach instituted the Recreation Advisory Committee, sat on the Healthy Penn Partners committee and served on the Student Engagement Working Group. He oversaw a $10M budget and led a staff of 21 full-time professionals and over 250 part-time employees. Two successful capital projects were completed during his tenure — a renovated Multi-Purpose area with cardio and functional fitness areas; and a $2M air-handling renovation, featuring the addition of air conditioning to Gimbel Gymnasium.

Prior to arriving at Penn, Leach served eleven years at Princeton University as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Campus Recreation (2006-2017). He served as the primary administrator — managing programming, staff and coaches, facilities, and budgets associated with Campus Recreation. Leach sat on the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics, the “Healthier Princeton Advisory Board” – which integrates the work of various departments into a concerted effort to address the health and well-being needs of the Princeton University community, and the University’s Yoga Council. He chaired the Intramural Working Group and the Sport Club Policy Review Committee. He created the Committee on Campus Recreation and served as its chair. A capstone achievement was a $17M renovation of the A Level of Dillon Gymnasium — which yielded improved access, new locker rooms, family/single-use changing/shower areas, and team rooms for the varsity volleyball and sport club programs.

Before his time at Princeton, Leach was Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Recreation at Saint Joseph's University (1995-2006). He oversaw recreation, which included a comprehensive intramural program, the University’s sports clubs, instructional programming, outdoor recreation, Sports Complex facilities, and varsity game/event operations. Leach was a member of the Saint Joseph’s University Alcohol Task Force, the University Safety Committee, and served as advisor to the Hand-in-Hand student service organization.  

Leach began his professional career at Temple University (1991-1995), where he worked in both the Athletics and Recreation Services Departments. While at Temple, he instituted a Sportsmanship Rating System for intramural participants (which is still in use).

Leach has been an active member of the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Pennsylvania Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (PIRSA) and the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society (PRPS). He recently served as a Director-at-Large on the Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Alumni Association Board. He previously served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors for the Princeton YMCA, most recently chairing the Property Committee as a member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, Leach has also coached and done work in municipal parks and recreation.

Leach holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (1990) and a Master's Degree in Education (1993), both from Temple University; and attended the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (2017). He was made an Honorary Member of Princeton University’s Class of 2017 and currently serves there as a fellow at Mathey College. Leach has been a community volunteer on the Parks and Recreation Board in Yardley, PA where he lives with his wife and three children.