Kyw Newsradio's 1-on-1 With Matt Leon

Scott Leacott has been the head women’s soccer coach at Division III Rowan University in Glassboro since 1999. He is the winningest coach in program history with 317 wins and he has taken the Profs to the NCAA Tournament 15 times. In Episode #175 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Leacott about his career in soccer. They look back at his playing days at Delran High School and in college, first at then-Philadelphia Textile and later Rowan. They also discuss his success with the Profs, how the college athletics landscape has changed and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Lisa Gedaka recently finished her 34th season as the head varsity girls basketball coach at her alma mater Gloucester Catholic. She has enjoyed extraordinary success with the Rams, in fact, Gedaka is the winningest coach in South Jersey history with 686 wins to her credit. In Episode #174 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Gedaka in studio to talk about her life in basketball. They talk about her playing days at Gloucester Catholic and in college at Villanova. They talk about her success in coaching, what it was like to coach her daughters and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Jarey Elder was a star defensive back at Division II West Chester University. As a senior in 2019, Elder was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Defensive Athlete of the Year. Since college, he has been chasing his pro football dream and these days he is in his second season with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL. We caught up with Elder to talk about his football journey, discuss the grind of the USFL season, look back at some of his favorite West Chester memories and more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Baker Dunleavy was recently hired to fill the newly created position of General Manager of Villanova Basketball. Dunleavy is a very familiar face on the Main Line as he played for the Wildcats and also served several years in various roles on Jay Wright’s staff, including Associate Head Coach. In Episode #173 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Dunleavy about coming back to the Wildcats. They discuss this new role and what responsibilities are connected with it, with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Villanova. They also talk about growing up in a basketball family, Dunleavy’s time as a head coach at Quinnipiac and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Sherri Retif just recently announced her retirement from coaching after 25 years leading the girls basketball program at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, PA. In those 25 years, she touched countless lives, won 539 games and led the Patriots to the Inter-Academic Athletic League Championship 20 times. At one point, Retif’s squad won 109 consecutive Inter-Ac games. In Episode #172 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Retif in studio to talk about her extraordinary career in coaching. They discuss why she decided this was the right time to step away, what she will miss about coaching and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Jennie Salmon took over as the head women’s fencing coach at her alma mater Temple University in the summer of 2022. She is just the second coach in Temple fencing's history as a varsity sport as she took over the program from its founder, the legendary Dr. Nikki Franke, who retired in 2022. Salmon was an elite fencer for Franke during her Owls career and prior to returning to North Broad Street, she enjoyed a ton of success coaching at the club, high school and college levels. In Episode #171 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Salmon into the studio to talk about her life in fencing. They discuss her return to Temple, talk about what it has been like taking over for a legend, how she was introduced to fencing and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Paul Royal has spent the last two decades as the head women’s soccer coach at La Salle University. The Archbishop Ryan High School product is the winningest coach in La Salle program history and he has led the Explorers to five NCAA Tournaments. In Episode #170 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Royal in studio to talk about his career. They discuss his success at La Salle, look back on his playing career as a standout goalkeeper in college and as a pro, talk about the changes the college athletics landscape is undergoing and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060. 

Tony Chapman just retired after 45 years as the head boys basketball coach at Holy Ghost Prep High School in Bensalem, PA. One of the state’s most respected coaches, Chapman enjoyed enormous success at his alma mater, winning 928 at the helm of the Firebirds. In Episode #169 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt welcomes Chapman in studio (accompanied by his wife Jane) to talk about an extraordinary career. They discuss his favorite memories as head coach of the Firebirds, what the end of his last season was like, why he decided now was the right time to retire and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Susan Lavin was one of the greatest women’s basketball players in the history of the Big 5. In four years at Saint Joseph’s University, the native of Ireland scored 2,340 points while helping the Hawks to two NCAA Tournaments and one WNIT. After her playing career, she spent 16 seasons on the SJU coaching staff and now serves as the program’s chief of staff. In Episode #168 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt chats with Lavin about her career on Hawk Hill. They discuss what it was like coming to the US from Ireland to play basketball, talk about some of her favorite memories from her playing days and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060. 

Scott Bittner just completed his seventh season as the head men’s basketball coach at Division III Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey. He has led the Ospreys to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons. Prior to taking over the program, Bittner spent a decade as an assistant and then associate head coach at Stockton. In Episode #167 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches up with Bittner to talk about his life in hoops. They discuss how his childhood growing up at the Jersey Shore helped shape him into who he is today. They also talk about how he got into coaching and much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.

Katie Davis Tantino was a star basketball player at Villanova University. As a senior, she helped lead the Wildcats to an unforgettable upset of UConn in the 2003 Big East Tournament Championship Game and to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Next month, she will be inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame. In Episode #166 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt talks with Tantino about her basketball career. They discuss what the Big 5 Hall of Fame means to her, what it was like to stun UConn in 2003, snapping the Huskies 70-game winning streak, and they reflect on some of her other favorite memories from her time on the Main Line. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

The Villanova University women’s basketball team is getting ready for the NCAA Tournament. The 28-6 Wildcats are a #4 seed and they will open things up at home against 30-4 Cleveland State on Saturday at Finneran Pavilion. On this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Villanova head coach Denise Dillon to talk about her team’s success, the incredible play of senior Maddy Siegrist and what she expects against Cleveland State. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

The Swarthmore College men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The 28-3 Garnet have defeated SUNY-Delhi, St. John Fisher, Keene State and Nichols College to get to this point and in the national semifinals on Thursday evening in Fort Wayne, Indiana, they will take on Christopher Newport University.In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks with Swarthmore College head coach Landry Kosmalski about his team and this magical run."1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Alyssa Gagliardi is a rarity in college hockey -- a woman coaching a men’s team. She just completed her first season as an assistant coach on head coach Kyle Mountain’s staff at Division III Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania. In Episode #165 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Gagliardi about her career on the ice. They look back on her season with the Knights, talk about her playing days at Cornell University and later in the pros and much more. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Ryan Carty is preparing for his second season as the head football coach at his alma mater the University of Delaware. In his first season, Carty led the Blue Hens to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. In Episode #164 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt talks to Carty about his life in football. They talk about playing for his dad Kevin Carty Sr. at Somerville High School in New Jersey, how he got into coaching, taking over at Delaware and much more. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Yolanda Laney was a star basketball player at Cheyney University who helped lead the Wolves to the first ever NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship Game back in 1982. That Cheyney team remains the only HBCU to play for a college basketball national championship. In Episode #163 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Laney about her incredible career on the court. They talk about that national title game against Louisiana Tech, what it was like to play for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer, how much she enjoys watching her daughter play in the WNBA and much more.  "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

Kamran Khan has been the head cricket coach at Haverford College for half a century.  The sport is a passion for him and it has taken him around the world as a player, representing both his native country of Pakistan and the US, and as a coach. In Episode #162 of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt takes a ride out to Haverford College to sit down with Khan and talk about his life in cricket. They talk about the growing popularity of the sport in the US, they discuss Khan’s career as a player, talk about how he came to Haverford and much more. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on Twitter @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @MattLeon1060.

The Eagles and Chiefs are moving closer to their Super Bowl 57 match-up. In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt catches upwith Kansas City Star sports columnist (and Swarthmore native and University of Pennsylvania alum) Vahe Gregorian. Matt and Vahe talk about the game, look at some under the radar Chiefs to keep an eye on (including another Penn alum) and discuss how Andy Reid is looked at by the Kansas City fan base. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)

The Eagles continue to prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” Matt welcomes the one and only Ray Didinger into the studio and they take a big picture look at the Eagles. Didinger actually came out of retirement to analyze the Eagles this postseason on our sister station Sportsradio 94 WIP and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Of course, Matt & Ray talk about the match-up with the Chiefs, but they also discuss how remarkable the fact is that the Eagles are where they are, given where they were just a couple of years ago. They also talk about whether a Super Bowl win would cement this Eagles team as the best in franchise history. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)

The Eagles are back in the Super Bowl and set for what should be a great match-up with Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. In this bonus episode of “1-on-1 with Matt Leon,” Matt speaks with Ridley High and University of Pennsylvania product – and former Kansas City Chief  offensive lineman – Joe Valerio to get his thoughts on the game. Valerio co-hosts the popular “Bleav in Chiefs” podcast. "1-on-1 with Matt Leon" is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. Follow the show on Twitter: @1on1pod (https://twitter.com/1on1pod), and follow Matt: @MattLeon1060 (https://twitter.com/MattLeon1060)