Leedale-Brown takes over squash programs

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford College Director of Athletics Wendy Smith has announced the hiring of Damon Leedale-Brown as the head men’s and women’s squash coach. Leedale-Brown brings an international background to the College’s squash program, most recently working with English Men’s players Nick Matthew and James Willstrop who are currently ranked No. 5 and No. 8 in the world, respectively.

“I am extremely pleased to have Damon join our athletic staff,” said Smith. “Coaching at the highest levels both nationally and internationally, Damon brings a wealth of experience and squash knowledge to our Haverford athletes. His energy and vision for the future of Haverford squash made him an ideal choice to lead our men’s and women’s programs,” she added.

Leedale-Brown carries a successful history with England Squash into his new job. Through their World Class Performance Program he worked closely with Junior and Senior squads and individuals that went on to win world team championships and world individual titles.

Since moving to the United States in the fall of 2005, Leedale-Brown has provided performance training and coaching to U.S. Junior and Senior national teams along with various upper level high school and collegiate programs, and worked individually with a number of Junior players ranked within the top-eight of their age-groups.

Across the pond, Leedale-Brown is a Level IV coach in the England Squash Rackets Association as well as an accredited Sport and Exercise Physiologist in the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). On U.S. soil he is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Leedale-Brown received his Bachelor of Science degree in sports science and physiology from Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. His scientific approach to coaching has led to positions as a lecturer at De Montfort University in Bedford and at Sheffield Hallam University, both in the U.K. He has also co-authored numerous articles that have been published in periodicals such as Science and Racket Sports, the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, and the Journal of Sport Sciences.

The relationships Leedale-Brown has established with coaching professionals and clubs in the U.S. and international links with national coaches from many of the leading squash nations “should prove extremely valuable in recruiting academically qualified squash players of a high performance level to Haverford,” said Leedale-Brown.