Sacred Heart-Griffin football coach steps into new role: Capital Township trustee

Steven Spearie, State Journal-Register
·2 min read
Sacred Heart-Griffin head football coach Ken Leonard is presented with a banner after the Cyclones defeated Normal U-High 49-6 for Leonard’s 400th win in 2021. Leonard is now a Capital Township trustee.
Sacred Heart-Griffin head football coach Ken Leonard is presented with a banner after the Cyclones defeated Normal U-High 49-6 for Leonard’s 400th win in 2021. Leonard is now a Capital Township trustee.

Sacred Heart-Griffin head football coach Ken Leonard, the all-time winningest coach in Illinois High School Association history who has guided teams to five state titles, is now a Capital Township trustee.

Capital Township Supervisor Joe Aiello made the announcement late Thursday and Leonard won unanimous approval of the board of trustees at its meeting later Thursday.

Leonard, 68, succeeds Richard T. "Rich" Berning, who retired from the board on March 31.

Related: Iconic Sacred Heart-Griffin football coach Ken Leonard to step down after next season

Berning was on the Capital Township board 14 years. He is a former Springfield traffic engineer, city engineer and public works director.

Leonard's 404-83 overall record spans 42 seasons first beginning with Gridley in 1980. He took over the now-Sacred Heart Griffin program in 1984 and has since chalked up a 372-72 record in 38 seasons.

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On Feb. 24, Leonard announced he was retiring from coaching at SHG following the 2022 season.

Leonard has simultaneously served as the athletic director throughout his tenure and will leave that position in June.

Leonard has been a Capital Township resident for over 35 years, Aiello noted. He is a Republican.

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"Ken Leonard is a lifelong educator and coach who has mentored students in and out of the classroom," Aiello said. "Ken's passion for service work will be an asset to our board and community.  We will miss Rich Berning's in-depth knowledge of Capital Township, but I believe Ken will pick up the torch and serve our community with energy and passion."

Leonard's current term expires in April 2025.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: SHG football coach Ken Leonard is now a Capital Township trustee