Austin Leisure Promoted to Associate Head Coach
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) has promoted Austin Leisure to associate head coach of the women's basketball program, recognizing his significant contributions since joining the Cougars in 2022.
As the program's lead assistant, Leisure has been instrumental in guiding the team to 59 wins over three seasons, culminating in a #9 national ranking at the end of the 2024-2025 season. His efforts were vital to the team's 26-win season and securing an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. Leisure's coaching experience extends beyond Saint Francis. Before joining the women's team in 2022, he served as an assistant on the SF men's staff and had coaching stints at Noblesville, Anderson, and New Haven High School. An alumnus of Saint Francis, Coach Leisure played as a point guard on the 2010 national championship team and was a key contributor to the 2011 national runner-up team.
"Coach Leisure is ready to be a head coach," said Head Coach Jeremy Henney. "He is a major reason for our recent success. He understands how to build a program and has influenced every area of our team. He is heavily involved in recruiting, scouting, and practices. Austin possesses an outstanding offensive mind, which is why we were ranked among the top 16 most efficient offensive programs in the country at any level last season. We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Leisure on our staff at Saint Francis!"
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,800 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.