Matt Leonard leaves Meadowdale High School to coach football in Texas: News & Notes

Matt Leonard has bigger-stage goals coaching football. And now he is I have officially stepped down as the head football coach at Meadowdale high school. Thank

Matt Leonard has bigger-stage goals coaching football.

And now he is

I have officially stepped down as the head football coach at Meadowdale high school. Thank you everyone for 4 great years of unbelievable support. pic.twitter.com/m6JEWgkb71

— Matt Leonard (@CoachMLeonard) June 19, 2019

">following those dreams to Texas.

Leonard, who spent four seasons at Meadowdale High School, orchestrating the school’s run to the Class 3A state semifinals in 2016, resigned his position this week.

Scorebook Live could not reach Leonard for comment, but he did tell My Edmonds News that he is leaving to become the safeties coach at Weiss High School, and also to become the head wrestling coach of the second-year school.

Mavericks defensive coordinator James Harmon will serve as the interim coach in the meantime as the school conducts a search, according to My Edmonds News.

Leonard, 35, had just one winning season at Meadowdale, but it was a good one in 2016.The Mavericks went 11-3, and upended Kelso and Peninsula in the state playoffs before losing to O’Dea in the 3A semifinals.

He compiled a 23-20 record in his four years at Meadowdale. Before that, he spent two seasons (2013-14) as the football coach at Foster High School in Tukwila.

Leonard played football for Tom Bainter at Bothell High School, and graduated from there in 2002. He later served as an assistant at his alma mater.

Lenoard headlines this week's News&Notes from around high school sports in the state of Washington. Here are some other headlines and, as always, an issues piece.

• Rainier Beach product Kevin Porter Jr. was taken 30th overall in Thursday's NBA Draft. This story by Paolo Uggetti of The Ringer takes a dive into Porter Jr.'s Seattle upbringing.
• Tim Martinez of The Columbian penned a column about the long career of Heritage athletic director Leta Meyer, who retired after 20 years at the post and nearly 40 years in education.
• Longtime Marysville Pilchuck wrestling coach Craig Iverson, a two-time state champ, retired, reports Brian Adamowsky of The Everett Herald.
• Former Snohomish offensive lineman Nathan Jacobson nabbed a spot on the Denver Broncos 90-man roster as an undrafted free agent, reports Nick Patterson of The Everett Herald.
• Gonzaga Prep's Tommy Kimmel qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur, reports The Spokesman-Review's Jim Meehan.
• As highly-ranked football recruits across the state of Washington continue to announce college commitments, Bleacher Report took a look at the often times random teens who know the secret in advance.

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Andy Buhler is a reporter for Scorebook Live Washington. To hear him every week on the Scorebook Live Today podcast, subscribe here. Follow him on Twitter @AndyBuhler and reach him via email at andy@scorebooklive.com.