As a versatile athlete with early success in multiple sports, Kevin Leady decided to narrow down his focus to pitch a fierce baseball career at the University while gearing up for life as teacher.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery to fix his elbow, the 2010 graduate emerged from sitting out most of the 2009 season to playing a key role in winning several important games this season. These include the Falcons’ April 8 victory over Eastern Michigan and their April 11 victory over Ball State, which led to the third longest winning streak in the program’s history, playing a large part in saving the team from its then 2-6 Mid-American Conference standing. His achievements on the field have led him to be named the Papa John’s Athlete of the Week for three consecutive weeks as well as the MAC East Pitcher of the Week during the season.

“He’s just a gamer. He loves the game of baseball and he has a lot of fun out here, but he’s a fierce competitor and he doesn’t like to lose,” coach Danny Schmitz said. “He gets after it, and he makes sure his teammates are getting after it, and that’s contagious. It makes coaching easy.”

Leady’s Falcon career began in 2006 as both a pitcher and an outfielder before becoming a pitcher exclusively in 2008, citing the stress on his arm and his pitching success as factors in his decision.

“One thing I like about pitching is that you are in control,” Leady said. “You don’t do it completely by yourself, but you control a lot.”

Leady’s pitching career was threatened by a nearly 20-month absence from the game while he recovered from his surgery, calling it a “strenuous, long process.” He acknowledged the fear he felt when he threw his first ball post-surgery.

“[When] I threw the first ball and there was no pain, I didn’t have any doubt after that I would come back and play,” Leady said.

Leady was not expecting the success he would experience in the 2010 season. He said he was just happy he had the opportunity to play.

“I just wanted to contribute,” Leady said. “Sitting out a full year was terrible.”

In spite of his injury, Leady said he made sure that he was involved in the program as much as possible during that period. Schmitz said Leady’s high support and enthusiasm for his fellow players made his presence crucial to the team’s success because he was always there to cheer for his teammates and help in any way possible.

With 65 strikeouts in 87 innings this season, along with a nearly 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 8-2 overall mark, Leady’s 2010 season demonstrates a career high built by years of playing the game, which began at the age of five. He carried his enthusiasm into other sports, as well.

Leady graduated from Eastwood High School in 2005, where he was a four-time letter winner in baseball. When he was not busy with baseball, he also excelled as a quarterback on the football team and point guard for the basketball team. His participation helped garner three conference championships in football and one in basketball.

“[He’s] a tremendous guy,” Schmitz said. “He does things the right way both on and off the field and in the classroom.”

A scholar athlete with a 3.076 GPA, Leady majored in Middle Childhood Education, allowing him to discover a passion for teaching. He completed his methods in the fall of 2009 and did full-time student teaching at Haskins Elementary school this past spring, calling it an “awesome” experience. He credits his family for instilling in him the value of education, expecting him to establish academic success early on.

“I want to help kids,” Leady said. “I like to mold [kids], so to teach them is definitely what I want to do with my life.”

Leady’s experiences in the classroom and playing different sports have allowed him to develop a number of important physical and leadership-type skills for baseball, crediting football for increased arm strength. In addition, his student teaching experience kicked his year into high gear with a schedule that left room only for baseball and his job. He went to school all day before baseball practice, after which he went home, graded papers and prepared the next day’s lesson.

“I’ve never been busier in my life,” Leady said. “I was swamped.”

Leady said that his teaching career could lead to baseball coaching later on, but stressed that it would be a side job.

“I went into education to be an educator, not a coach,” Leady said.

As a recent graduate, Leady said he is carefully considering his options, one such being to return to the University to get a Master’s Degree, depending on the job market. This will prove to be his next major decision, as Leady will be eligible for one more year of baseball if he returns to the University.

Most importantly for Falcon fans, Leady’s focus on the future has translated into his attitude toward the game. Leady stresses the importance of not dwelling on past successes and failures when there is more baseball to be played.

“It’s nice to be [8-2], but the only thing I really care about is the team,” Leady said. “If we win, I’m happy.”