PHILADELPHIA – David C. Leach, a professional with more than 25 years of experience in campus recreation, has been named the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Recreation and Wellness at Penn, Director of Athletics Dr. M. Grace Calhoun announced today. Leach arrives in University City after 11 years at Princeton, including the last four as the Senior Associate AD for Campus Recreation. 

“Dave’s experience with a robust, comprehensive campus recreation program will enable him to engage the University community and advance our strategic priorities within Penn Campus Recreation,” Calhoun said. “He is committed to providing our students and staff with a first-class recreation, fitness and wellness experience. We set our sights high and landed a top-notch professional for this important position on our senior leadership team.”

At Princeton, Leach led the campus recreation program that included a 38-team sport club program with over 1,100 participants and intramural offerings for approximately 500 teams. Princeton’s instructional and group fitness program consisted of over 100 classes and 3,000 participants and Leach also oversaw the informal recreation component and all aspects of Dillon Gymnasium.

“I am thrilled to be joining Dr. Calhoun and her staff and look forward to working with a team of dedicated professionals to enhance the recreation and wellness opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania,” Leach said. 

Leach was involved on several University committees, serving as the chair of the Committee on Campus Recreation and a member of the Healthier Princeton Advisory Board, Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and the Yoga Council. He was also a fellow at the Mathey Residential College and Assistant Marshal for commencement.

Prior to arriving at Princeton in 2006, Leach directed the campus recreation program at Saint Joseph’s University for over 10 years. After arriving as the Director of Recreation in 1996, Leach was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Campus Recreation in 2002. He led the recreational, intramural, sport club and outdoor programs while also acting as game operations director for varsity athletic contests. 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 career as a graduate assistant in the Temple University athletic department and was quickly promoted to intramural coordinator, where he spent three years leading the department’s 33 leagues within three facilities. He instituted a Sportsmanship Rating System for intramural participants, which is still in use today.

A 1990 graduate of Temple with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Leach received his master’s degree in sport and recreation administration from Temple in 1993. He is an active member of the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA), and is a past president of the Pennsylvania Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (PIRSA).