Brett Leidal

Assistant Cross Country & Track (Distance) Coach

Brett Leidal is a proud alumnus of Detroit Catholic Central High School (Class of 2022) and serves as an Assistant Coach for both the Cross Country program and the Track & Field (distance) team. Bringing a wealth of recent competitive experience at both the high school and collegiate levels, Coach Leidal is dedicated to maintaining the rich tradition of excellence within the Shamrocks' running program.

Athletic Achievements

Coach Leidal has established an impressive athletic legacy, demonstrating elite performance and leadership throughout his competitive career:

Detroit Catholic Central High School

• 7-Time Varsity Letter Winner: A multi-sport standout for the Shamrocks across cross country and track and field.

• MHSAA All-State Honors: Earned prestigious All-State accolades in MHSAA Cross Country competition, proving himself among the top runners in the state.

University of Michigan-Dearborn

• Collegiate Varsity Letter Winner: Continued his athletic excellence at the collegiate level.

• 3-Time Team MVP: Recognized three times as the Most Valuable Player for the UM-Dearborn Cross Country team, highlighting his consistency and leadership.

• WHAC All-Conference: Earned All-Conference honors in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

• School Record Holder: Holds the prestigious UM-Dearborn school record for the 8,000-meter distance.

• 3-Time Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete: Demonstrated exceptional academic and athletic balance, earning national scholar-athlete recognition three times.

• SLAAM Scholarship Winner: Awarded the UM-Dearborn Athletic Department SLAAM Scholarship for his outstanding contributions to the athletic community.

Coaching Experience & Philosophy

Coach Leidal is entering his first season as an assistant cross country coach, building upon his experience serving three seasons as an assistant distance coach for track and field at Detroit Catholic Central. His transition from elite athlete to coach is driven by a deep desire to give back to his alma mater.

"To share my knowledge and passion with the next generation of Catholic Central runners."

Fun Fact

Outside of running and coaching, Coach Leidal possesses an impressive knowledge of geography—he can name all 83 counties in the State of Michigan!