JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 28, 2014) -- A commitment to the success of student-athletes is paying off for a Mission and Installation Contracting Command member following his recent selection to serve as head coordinator of football officials for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Donnell Leathers, a contracting specialist for MICC-Fort Bragg, North Carolina, got his start officiating high school games more than 20 years ago at Fort Bragg while he was on active duty. Throughout his years in the Army, he went on to call games at the NCAA Division II level and today officiates at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Football Championship Subdivision level.
"My involvement with athletics has brought me in contact with some great people, and I have made some great friends around the United States," said Leathers, who joined the command almost four years ago. "At no matter what level you are, just remember that is it never about you but for the student-athletes."
In addition to football, Leathers officiates basketball in the CIAA and South Atlantic Conference. This combined with the duties of his new role as coordinator for CIAA leaves little spare time in his weekends. Those duties include supervising CIAA officials, assigning staff for football games, conducting training and evaluating officials.
"I'll also observe games and supervise a staff of observers who are my eyes and ears at every game. It involves a lot of different responsibilities," he said.
Additionally, he's responsible for selecting and recommending officials to the College Football Organization for the playoffs.
The CIAA was founded in 1912 as the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association and is the oldest African-American athletic conference in the nation. It consists of historically black colleges and universities throughout the east coast with student enrollments ranging from 750 to more than 7,000. Public and private schools making up the CIAA today include Bowie State University, Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, St. Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University.
The similarities between what it takes to succeed at work and on the field does not go unrecognized for the retired Soldier.
"It has taught me that hard work and dedication pays off, which I currently employ in my position as a contract specialist, and to also strive to be a leader at whatever you do," Leathers said.
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