JEFF LEATHERMAN
CLASS 0F 1987
ATHLETE
In a 1986 interview with the Daily News-Record regarding Jeff Leatherman HHS baseball coach Jack Hale (HoF 2013) stated: “I truly don’t believe I can recall, in 23 or 24 years, a student who’s any more dedicated both as a student and an athlete”. Jeff, was a 3 sport athlete from 1983-1987 in golf, basketball and baseball earning post-season honors in each sport.
A steady contributor on the golf course, Jeff recorded medalist honors at the1986 Spotswood/Harrisonburg Invitational and a 5th place finish in the 1985 district tournament gave him All-District recognition. On the basketball court Jeff lettered 3 years, twice as a starter for Coach Roger Bergey (HoF 2009) averaging 10.4 points per game and a team leading 4.8 assists per game.
Jeff’s premier sport was baseball where he played shortstop. He demonstrated excellent defensive skills and graduated with a .400 batting average. His high school honors include; 2-time All- District and All-Regional player, and selected to play in the Virginia High School Coaches Association All Star game in 1987. He attracted the attention of many college scouts and accepted a baseball scholarship to Auburn University. During his 4 years as an infielder for Auburn, he was among the school’s all-time leaders in hits. He was selected to the All-Tournament team on Auburn’s 1989 Southeast Conference championship team and was a GTE First Team Academic All-American in 1991. After graduation, The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Jeff to play for Class A Welland in 1991, where he earned the team’s Player of the Year award. After suffering numerous knee injuries he retired from baseball following the 1992 season and returned to school at the Medical College of Virginia. Jeff graduated from MCV in 1996 with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy and began a private practice in North Carolina in 2004. In 2016 he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Montana.
Jeff is currently the PTA program director/assistant professor at South University in High Point, North Carolina and physical therapist at Pivot Physical Therapy in Greensboro, N.C. He resides with his family in High Point. Jeff’s sister Kristen was a 2-time state doubles champion for the HHS tennis team.
