Kyw Newsradio's 1-on-1 With Matt Leon

The Division III Ursinus College football team is coming off an outstanding 2023 season. The Bears went 8-3 (3-3 in the Centennial Conference), winning their final four games, including a Centennial-MAC Bowl Series win over Stevenson. Ursinus has a lot of talent back here in 2024 and Matt caught up with head coach Peter Gallagher, to get his thoughts on his squad's potential this season.  “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

The Villanova University football team enjoyed a tremendous 2023 season, finishing 10-3, winning a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats have high hopes - and a lot of talent - here in 2024 and Matt spoke with head coach Mark Ferrante about what to expect on the Main Line. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

The Division III Widener Pride football team went 7-4 in 2023 (6-3 in the MAC Commonwealth) and they will be looking to build on that success in 2024. Widener opens the season on Saturday, September 7th on the road at Lycoming. Matt spoke with Widener head coach Mike Barainyak about his squad. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

The Temple Owls are coming off a 3-9 (1-7 AAC) 2023 season and looking to take a big step forward here in 2024. They will get a big challenge in their opener on Friday as the Owls visit nationally ranked Oklahoma. Matt caught up with Temple head coach Stan Drayton to get a feel for what is in store this season for the Owls. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Eric Brennan is preparing for his second season as the head men's basketball coach at Division III Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. His first season he was the interim head coach and lead the Profs to 21 wins and an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He served as an assistant to former Rowan head coach Joe Crispin before taking over the program and also spent several years as an assistant coach to Naismith Hall of Famer Herb Magee at Thomas Jefferson University. In Episode #225 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt welcomes Brennan in studio to talk about his life in hoops. They talk about his success this past season, the challenges ahead, look back at his playing days at West Catholic High School, Lock Haven and Kutztown Universities and much more.  “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Kelsie McDowell was just hired this summer to build the new varsity women’s rugby program at La Salle University. McDowell comes to Philadelphia from Army West Point, where she was serving as an assistant. In Episode #224 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes McDowell in studio to talk about coming on board at La Salle. They discuss why this was the right opportunity at the right time for her, look back at how she was introduced to rugby, talk about her days playing at Northern Iowa University and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Pat Horvath has been the head baseball coach at Division II Thomas Jefferson University since June of 2010. In 2024 he enjoyed his best season leading the Rams as Thomas Jefferson won 33 games and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.  That success led to Horvath being named the 2024 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year.In Episode #223 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Horvath in studio to talk about his career. They look back at his playing days as a catcher, discuss the road that brought him to Philadelphia, examine the program’s recent success and much more.“1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Sandy Stockl started the girls’ lacrosse program at Washington Township High School in Gloucester County in South Jersey back in 1994. She spent 31 years as the head coach until deciding to retire after the 2024 season – she will still be working at the school as a counselor. She won 300 games at the helm of the program and her coaching career came after an elite playing career, which saw her win three Division III National Championships as a goalie at TCNJ (then Trenton State College). In Episode #222 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Stockl in studio to look back on her career. They discuss why this was the right time to step away, look back at what it was like to start the program back in 1994, reflect on her outstanding playing career and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Ashley Sessa is a member of the US Olympic field hockey team that will be competing later this month at the Paris Summer Olympic Games. She is a graduate of Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square and won a national championship as a freshman at the University of North Carolina. She will be transferring to Northwestern in the fall. In Episode #221 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt catches up with Sessa during a break from her training for the Olympic Games in North Carolina. They discuss what it has been like getting ready for Paris, talk about how she was introduced to field hockey and what she is expecting at the games and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Zoe Siswick is a counselor and athletic director at Science Leadership Academy in Center City.  She has spent the last several years coaching both softball and girls soccer, but will be stepping away from those roles to serve as the softball sports chair for the Philadelphia Public League on July 1st. In Episode #220 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Siswick in studio to talk about her career. They discuss how she has juggled her multiple roles at the school over the years, discuss the road that saw her go to college for international relations but end up in her current roles at SLA,  talk about this new opportunity as softball sports chair and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Tyler Drob is the head football coach at Cherry Hill High School East. He is preparing for his third year leading the program, having also served as an assistant for the Cougars from 2019 to 2022. Drob was a standout offensive lineman at East and went on to dominate in college, playing at Division II West Chester University. In Episode #219 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Drob in studio to talk about his career in football. They look back at his playing days in high school and college, talk about the serious injury he sustained at West Chester, discuss what it is like to be the head coach at his alma mater and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Dr. Karen Weaver is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. She is one of the country's foremost experts on the world of college athletics and women's sports, in large part because of a career that that has seen her star as a college field hockey player at Temple and Lock Haven, win a national championship as a head field hockey coach at Salisbury, serve as an athletic director, teach, write books and more. In Episode #218 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt welcomes Weaver in studio to talk about her career. They look back at her field hockey playing days They also discuss her coaching success - which included a long stretch as the head coach at Ohio State - in addition to her national title at Salisbury, her move to administration and then to the college classroom and more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060. 

Mike Reichenbach spent eight seasons in the NFL, six of them as a linebacker for the Eagles, who signed him as a rookie free agent out of Division II East Stroudsburg University in 1984. In Episode #217 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Reichenbach to look back on his career.  They talk about how he broke into the NFL out of a DII school, they reflect on some of his favorite memories from his days with the Eagles, they talk about how his life now is driven by his Christian faith and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Bob Lynch just retired after 35 years as the head coach of the men’s golf team at Saint Joseph’s University.  He is one of the most respected members of the Philadelphia golf scene and was the 2003 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. In Episode #216 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Lynch in studio to look back at his career. They talk about how he came to land the job on Hawk Hill, how his father introduced him to golf, what he will miss about coaching and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Joe Trainer is the head coach of the new women's flag football program at Division III Immaculata University. Trainer has a long history in coaching. He had two stints as the defensive coordinator at Villanova University and served as head coach at Millersville and Rhode Island. In Episode #215 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt talks with Trainer about this new challenge. They dig into the nuts and bolts of flag football, talk about why this opportunity at Immaculata was the right one at the right time for him, they look back at Trainer's other coaching stops and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Jesse Balcer has been the Director of Athletics at Division II Chestnut Hill College since 2018. He’s been at the school since 2003 when he started the men’s basketball program and he served as head coach until 2020. In Episode #214 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Balcer in studio to talk about his career. They talk about taking over as AD, look back at his coaching days, discuss his college career playing baseball and basketball at Thomas Jefferson University and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060

Dan Pruessner has been the head men's basketball coach at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, Pennsylvania on the Main Line since 2019. In 2022, he led the Eagles to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and in 2024 Eastern won its first-ever MAC Commonwealth Championship and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament win. In Episode #213 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt talks with Pruessner about his life in hoops. They talk about the success he has enjoyed at Eastern, discuss his days coaching high school basketball in Florida and North Carolina, reflect on his college basketball playing experience, which included basically being cut from the team, and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060

Jada Pierce has been the head women’s basketball coach at Niagara University since 2015. The Philadelphia native has raised the program to a new level, leading the Purple Eagles to their first two Division I postseason appearances and first ever D1 postseason win in the first round of the 2024 WNIT. Pierce’s coaching resume also includes time as the head coach at Cheyney University and stints as an assistant at the University of Delaware and Saint Joseph’s University. As a player, Pierce starred at Central High School and West Chester University. In Episode #212 of “1-on1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Pierce to talk about her life in hoops. They discuss what’s been key to her squad’s success the last few years, talk about her introduction to basketball, look back on some of her favorite memories from her career and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060

The first coach in the history of the University of Delaware's women's ice hockey program is Allison Coomey. She will build the program from the ground up as the Blue Hens prepare to begin play during the 2025-26 season. Coomey comes to Newark after several years in State College as an assistant and then associate head coach at Penn State. As a player, Coomey was a standout at Niagara, where she also was part of building a new program. In Episode #211 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt talks with Coomey about her life in hockey. They talk about the challenge of starting a new program and how she was introduced to the sport. They also look back at her playing days and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Gilly Lane has been the head men’s squash coach at his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania since March of 2016. On his watch Penn has been one of the nation’s elite programs and this past March, he led the Quakers to their first-ever Potter Cup, the men’s squash national championship. In Episode #210 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Lane in studio to talk about his career. They talk about the Quakers thrilling ride to the title, discuss his introduction to the sport, look back on his playing days at Penn and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.