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

Jim Watson spent his entire decade in the NHL manning the blue line for the Philadelphia Flyers. He helped the Orange and Black win the Stanley Cup in both 1974 & 1975. After his playing days, Watson – who grew up in British Columbia – stayed in the Delaware Valley, eventually helped found Ice Works in Aston, where he still works today. In Episode #180 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks about Watson’s long career in hockey. They talk about his days playing pond hockey as a kid, look back at his time with the Flyers, discuss what it was like to play in Philadelphia with his brother Joe,  and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Kyle Davis is the first head coach in the history of Division II Holy Family University baseball. He has been tasked with beginning the program from scratch. This is the second time Davis has been in this position, he also started the program at Valley Forge Military Academy & College. He has also been at the other end of the life cycle, as he was the head coach at his alma mater University of the Sciences when it merged with Saint Joseph’s University and its athletic programs were no more. In Episode #179 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Davis about starting the Holy Family program. They also discuss his unique resume as a head coach, look back at his playing days at University of the Sciences and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Cindy Bevilacqua is the president and head coach at Middletown Archery in Media, PA. She has been an elite archer for decades. In college at James Madison University, she was named Female Athlete of the Year and she has coached countless archers who have enjoyed success at high levels. In Episode #178 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Bevilacqua in studio to talk about her life in archery. They discuss what Middletown Archery is all about, talk about her career in the sport and the serious injury she had to overcome and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Kathleen Geiger was an elite athlete who starred at Temple in field hockey and lacrosse. Her lacrosse prowess led to her playing at the highest levels for the US team and earning the lofty honor of being named a 2023 Tewaaraton Legend of lacrosse. She also has enjoyed enormous success in the high school coaching ranks as a head coach at Penn Wood and currently as an assistant at Springfield. In Episode #177 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Geiger to talk about her extraordinary career. They discuss what it meant to hear to be honored as a Tewaaraton Legend, they look back on her days at Temple, talk about how far lacrosse and women’s sports in general have come over the years and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Bria Young is the head girls basketball coach at New Foundations Charter School in Philadelphia. Prior to coaching, Young was a star player at Division II Thomas Jefferson University and after college, she spent two years touring the world as the 14th woman to ever suit up for the Harlem Globetrotters. In Episode #176 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Young in studio to talk about her life in hoops. They discuss her comeback from two ACL tears as a high school player at Prep Charter, what it was like to be a Globetrotter, how she found her voice as a coach and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Scott Leacott has been the head women’s soccer coach at Division III Rowan University in Glassboro since 1999. He is the winningest coach in program history with 317 wins and he has taken the Profs to the NCAA Tournament 15 times. In Episode #175 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Leacott about his career in soccer. They look back at his playing days at Delran High School and in college, first at then-Philadelphia Textile and later Rowan. They also discuss his success with the Profs, how the college athletics landscape has changed and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Lisa Gedaka recently finished her 34th season as the head varsity girls basketball coach at her alma mater Gloucester Catholic. She has enjoyed extraordinary success with the Rams, in fact, Gedaka is the winningest coach in South Jersey history with 686 wins to her credit. In Episode #174 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Gedaka in studio to talk about her life in basketball. They talk about her playing days at Gloucester Catholic and in college at Villanova. They talk about her success in coaching, what it was like to coach her daughters and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Jarey Elder was a star defensive back at Division II West Chester University. As a senior in 2019, Elder was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Defensive Athlete of the Year. Since college, he has been chasing his pro football dream and these days he is in his second season with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL. We caught up with Elder to talk about his football journey, discuss the grind of the USFL season, look back at some of his favorite West Chester memories and more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Baker Dunleavy was recently hired to fill the newly created position of General Manager of Villanova Basketball. Dunleavy is a very familiar face on the Main Line as he played for the Wildcats and also served several years in various roles on Jay Wright’s staff, including Associate Head Coach. In Episode #173 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Dunleavy about coming back to the Wildcats. They discuss this new role and what responsibilities are connected with it, with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Villanova. They also talk about growing up in a basketball family, Dunleavy’s time as a head coach at Quinnipiac and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Sherri Retif just recently announced her retirement from coaching after 25 years leading the girls basketball program at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, PA. In those 25 years, she touched countless lives, won 539 games and led the Patriots to the Inter-Academic Athletic League Championship 20 times. At one point, Retif’s squad won 109 consecutive Inter-Ac games. In Episode #172 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Retif in studio to talk about her extraordinary career in coaching. They discuss why she decided this was the right time to step away, what she will miss about coaching and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Jennie Salmon took over as the head women’s fencing coach at her alma mater Temple University in the summer of 2022. She is just the second coach in Temple fencing's history as a varsity sport as she took over the program from its founder, the legendary Dr. Nikki Franke, who retired in 2022. Salmon was an elite fencer for Franke during her Owls career and prior to returning to North Broad Street, she enjoyed a ton of success coaching at the club, high school and college levels. In Episode #171 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Salmon into the studio to talk about her life in fencing. They discuss her return to Temple, talk about what it has been like taking over for a legend, how she was introduced to fencing and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Paul Royal has spent the last two decades as the head women’s soccer coach at La Salle University. The Archbishop Ryan High School product is the winningest coach in La Salle program history and he has led the Explorers to five NCAA Tournaments. In Episode #170 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Royal in studio to talk about his career. They discuss his success at La Salle, look back on his playing career as a standout goalkeeper in college and as a pro, talk about the changes the college athletics landscape is undergoing and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060. 

Tony Chapman just retired after 45 years as the head boys basketball coach at Holy Ghost Prep High School in Bensalem, PA. One of the state’s most respected coaches, Chapman enjoyed enormous success at his alma mater, winning 928 at the helm of the Firebirds. In Episode #169 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Chapman in studio (accompanied by his wife Jane) to talk about an extraordinary career. They discuss his favorite memories as head coach of the Firebirds, what the end of his last season was like, why he decided now was the right time to retire and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Susan Lavin was one of the greatest women’s basketball players in the history of the Big 5. In four years at Saint Joseph’s University, the native of Ireland scored 2,340 points while helping the Hawks to two NCAA Tournaments and one WNIT. After her playing career, she spent 16 seasons on the SJU coaching staff and now serves as the program’s chief of staff. In Episode #168 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt chats with Lavin about her career on Hawk Hill. They discuss what it was like coming to the US from Ireland to play basketball, talk about some of her favorite memories from her playing days and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060. 

Scott Bittner just completed his seventh season as the head men’s basketball coach at Division III Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey. He has led the Ospreys to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons. Prior to taking over the program, Bittner spent a decade as an assistant and then associate head coach at Stockton. In Episode #167 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Bittner to talk about his life in hoops. They discuss how his childhood growing up at the Jersey Shore helped shape him into who he is today. They also talk about how he got into coaching and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Katie Davis Tantino was a star basketball player at Villanova University. As a senior, she helped lead the Wildcats to an unforgettable upset of UConn in the 2003 Big East Tournament Championship Game and to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Next month, she will be inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame. In Episode #166 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt talks with Tantino about her basketball career. They discuss what the Big 5 Hall of Fame means to her, what it was like to stun UConn in 2003, snapping the Huskies 70-game winning streak, and they reflect on some of her other favorite memories from her time on the Main Line. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

The Villanova University women’s basketball team is getting ready for the NCAA Tournament. The 28-6 Wildcats are a #4 seed and they will open things up at home against 30-4 Cleveland State on Saturday at Finneran Pavilion. On this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Villanova head coach Denise Dillon to talk about her team’s success, the incredible play of senior Maddy Siegrist and what she expects against Cleveland State. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

The Swarthmore College men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The 28-3 Garnet have defeated SUNY-Delhi, St. John Fisher, Keene State and Nichols College to get to this point and in the national semifinals on Thursday evening in Fort Wayne, Indiana, they will take on Christopher Newport University.In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Swarthmore College head coach Landry Kosmalski about his team and this magical run."1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Alyssa Gagliardi is a rarity in college hockey -- a woman coaching a men’s team. She just completed her first season as an assistant coach on head coach Kyle Mountain’s staff at Division III Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania. In Episode #165 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Gagliardi about her career on the ice. They look back on her season with the Knights, talk about her playing days at Cornell University and later in the pros and much more. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Ryan Carty is preparing for his second season as the head football coach at his alma mater the University of Delaware. In his first season, Carty led the Blue Hens to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. In Episode #164 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks to Carty about his life in football. They talk about playing for his dad Kevin Carty Sr. at Somerville High School in New Jersey, how he got into coaching, taking over at Delaware and much more. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.