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

Yolanda Laney was a star basketball player at Cheyney University who helped lead the Wolves to the first ever NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship Game back in 1982. That Cheyney team remains the only HBCU to play for a college basketball national championship. In Episode #163 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Laney about her incredible career on the court. They talk about that national title game against Louisiana Tech, what it was like to play for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer, how much she enjoys watching her daughter play in the WNBA 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.

Kamran Khan has been the head cricket coach at Haverford College for half a century.  The sport is a passion for him and it has taken him around the world as a player, representing both his native country of Pakistan and the US, and as a coach. In Episode #162 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt takes a ride out to Haverford College to sit down with Khan and talk about his life in cricket. They talk about the growing popularity of the sport in the US, they discuss Khan’s career as a player, talk about how he came to Haverford 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.

The Eagles and Chiefs are moving closer to their Super Bowl 57 match-up. In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches upwith Kansas City Star sports columnist (and Swarthmore native and University of Pennsylvania alum) Vahe Gregorian. Matt and Vahe talk about the game, look at some under the radar Chiefs to keep an eye on (including another Penn alum) and discuss how Andy Reid is looked at by the Kansas City fan base. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)

The Eagles continue to prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” Matt welcomes the one and only Ray Didinger into the studio and they take a big picture look at the Eagles. Didinger actually came out of retirement to analyze the Eagles this postseason on our sister station Sportsradio 94 WIP and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Of course, Matt & Ray talk about the match-up with the Chiefs, but they also discuss how remarkable the fact is that the Eagles are where they are, given where they were just a couple of years ago. They also talk about whether a Super Bowl win would cement this Eagles team as the best in franchise history. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)

The Eagles are back in the Super Bowl and set for what should be a great match-up with Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Ridley High and University of Pennsylvania product – and former Kansas City Chief  offensive lineman – Joe Valerio to get his thoughts on the game. Valerio co-hosts the popular “Bleav in Chiefs” podcast. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)

Karin Colby has been the head men’s and women’s swimming coach at Division III Swarthmore College since 2015. She has led the men to three Centennial Conference titles and the women to one since taking over, and both the men and women are nationally ranked here in 2023. In Episode #161 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Colby in studio to talk about her career. They look back at her days as a competitive swimmer, talk about what it was like to lead both the men and women to conference titles in 2022, 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.

Mark Birtwistle has been the head women’s volleyball coach at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, Pennsylvania since 1990. He has 801 career coaching wins with the Eagles and he has led his program to 23 conference titles, 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 trips to the Sweet 16, three to the Elite Eight and one to the Final Four (2011). In Episode #160 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Birtwistle to talk about his extraordinary success. They talk about how he was introduced to volleyball, what that run to the 2011 Final Four was like 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.

Gina Procaccio has been the head women’s cross country and track and field coach at Villanova University since 2000. She has enjoyed all kinds of success with the Wildcats, including leading them to back-to-back cross country national championships in 2009 and 2010. Her coaching career follows her extraordinary career as an athlete. In Episode #159 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Procaccio about her career as both a competitor and a coach. They discuss how she started running, what it's like to help set a world record, what it's like to win a national championship 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.

Joe Moore has spent a decade as the head softball coach at Clayton High School in Gloucester County. On his watch, the Clippers have become a dominant force, winning back-to-back NJSIAA Group 1 state titles in 2021 and 2022, despite being one of the smallest public high schools in New Jersey. In Episode #158 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Moore into his alternate studio (his dining room) to talk about his career in coaching. They discuss the incredible success the program has enjoyed as of late, the pride the team’s success has brought to Clayton (Matt’s hometown) 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.

Kim Valenti has been the head gymnastics coach at Division III Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA since the summer of 2018. This is her first collegiate head coaching job and prior to taking over the Ursinus program, Valenti enjoyed successful stints as an assistant at Temple, Penn and MIT. In Episode #157 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Valenti in studio as they discuss her life in gymnastics. They talk about how she was introduced to the sport, what happened when she went to James Madison University to compete and they cut the program her freshman year, how she 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.

South Jersey field hockey star Kristiina Castagnola has been named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year. KYW Newsradio's Matt Leon has more. 

Melissa McCarthy has been the head field hockey coach at Division III Widener University since the winter of 2019. Prior to taking over the program, McCarthy served as an assistant with the Pride for five years. In Episode #156 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with McCarthy about her life in field hockey. They talk about her playing career (which is still ongoing), the adversity she faced during her college playing days, why she so loves the sport 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.

Larry Dougherty is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications at Temple University. He’s been at Temple for some two decades and he came to the Owls after spending 15 years in a similar position at his alma mater Saint Joseph’s University. In Episode #155 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Dougherty in studio to talk about his career in college athletic communications. They talk about how he got into the business, what it takes to succeed in it and what he loves about it. "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.

Terry Toohey is an assistant sports editor and sports writer for the Delaware County Daily Times. He has been with the paper since 1981, and if it has happened in Delaware County sports over the last 40+ years, chances are he has covered it. In Episode #154 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Toohey about his career in sports writing. They look back on his time with the Daily Times, talk about how he got into the business, 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.

Michiel Bartman is settling into his first year as the head women’s rowing coach at Thomas Jefferson University. He joined the Rams after serving as an assistant coach at Temple. As a competitor, Bartman won three Olympic medals, including a gold, while a member of the Dutch National Team. In Episode #153 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Bartman about coming on board with the Rams. They also look back at his Olympic experiences, discuss why the Philadelphia rowing scene is special 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.

Brian O’Keefe was a star catcher at Saint Joseph’s University. His success on Hawk Hill led to him getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. After climbing the minor league ladder for years and switching organizations, he made his Major League Baseball debut and got his first big league hit in 2022 with the Seattle Mariners. In Episode #152 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with O’Keefe about his career in baseball. They talk about the amazing 48 hours that included his big league call up, a playoff clinching celebration and his first MLB hit. They also look back at his time with the Hawks and talk about the impact SJU head coach Fritz Hamburg had on his career. "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.

William Thomas was one of the best linebackers in recent Eagles history. He spent nine years with the Birds after being drafted in the 4th round in 1991 out of Texas A & M. During his career in Philadelphia, he consistently played at a high level and was the rare linebacker who could truly do it all.In Episode #151 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Thomas about his career in the NFL. They also discuss what he is doing now, relive some of his favorite memories from his days with the Eagles and also talk about the controversial game that proved to be the last in his NFL career. "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.

Ben Feld is the head men’s golf coach at his alma mater, Drexel University. It is a role he has held since 2016. During the 2021-22 season, he led the Dragons to victories in three events and a third-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships. Feld also is excelling on the links in his own right as this past summer he qualified for and played in the 122nd U.S. Amateur. In Episode #150 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Feld in studio to discuss his career. They talk about his recent run in U.S. Amateur, his career as a golfer at Drexel, 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.

John Yurkow has been the head baseball coach at the University of Pennsylvania since 2013. Prior to taking things over, he served as an assistant for the Quakers for seven years. On his watch, Penn has consistently been one of the Ivy League's top programs. In Episode #149 of "1-On-1 With Matt Leon," Matt speaks with Yurkow about his career. They look back at his playing days in college at Rowan University, talk about how he got into coaching, discuss his favorite part of the job 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.

Dan Dougherty is the head coach of the varsity girls basketball team at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting. On his watch, the program has been one of the best in the state. That success has been punctuated this past season by a 34-0 record and a PIAA Class 6A State Championship. In Episode #148 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Dougherty about his career. They talk about that state title, how he got into coaching, how much he enjoys watching his players go on to college, 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.