Jackson Leonard most recently spent time working alongside The Ohio State University’s Men’s program. Working with Head Coach Bill Wadley and Assistant Coach Mike Hulme was a transformative experience, as the Buckeyes earned a second place overall finish at the Big Ten Championships. Coach Jackson oversaw the development of the distance swimmers, all of whom swam to new lifetime best times- including a personal best from junior Brayden Seal and senior Joey Long, who earned spots to the 2017 NCAA Championships.

Before Ohio State, Jackson worked as Head Age Group coach at Gulliver Swim Club and helped develop the age group program to one of the premiere South Florida club teams. GRSC achieved its first overall second place finish at Junior Olympics in his first year. Coach Jackson helped multiple swimmers achieve top 10 status in the LSC individually, helped guide several to spots on the FGC Zone team, and to 1st place finishes at Junior Olympics. No Gold group achieved less than 90% best times at championships meets under his watch.

Before GRSC, Coach Jackson coached alongside his father, John Leonard, with the SwimFast Swim Club and the American Swimming Coaches Association in Fort Lauderdale. As Senior Coach of SwimFast, several of Leonard's swimmers qualified for the Sectional Championships including one athlete being named to the Team USA roster for 2015 European Maccabi Games. With the American Swimming Coaches Association, Leonard was tasked with directing regional and local ASCA Clinics including the 2015 ASCA SEC Clinic in Gainesville, Florida, the 2015 ASCA Advanced Breaststroke Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, and the 2015 San Diego Western Age Group Clinic in San Diego, California.

Before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Coach Leonard served three years as the Head Age Group Coach of the Gator Swim Club in Gainesville, Florida. During this time, the Gator Swim Club rose to the top of the Florida Swimming LSC Age Group Rankings. Leonard’s swimmers won Florida Swimming and Southern Zone Championships, broke numerous Florida Swimming, Southern Zone, and National Age Group Records, and qualified for the Junior National Championships. Furthermore, USA Swimming recognized the Gator Swim Club as a Gold Medal Club following the 2013-2014 season solidifying the team as one of the Top 20 Swim Clubs in the nation. For his efforts, Coach Leonard was awarded the 2014 Florida Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year as well as being recognized as a 2014 ASCA Top 10 Finalist for National Age Group Coach of the Year.

In addition to his work with the Gator Swim Club, Coach Leonard was fortunate be mentored by U.S. Olympic Head Coach and Swimming Head Coach . Spending four years as the Head Manager for University of Florida Swimming, Coach Leonard learned how elite athletes train, prepare, and compete from one of the most knowledgeable coaches in the sport. Coach Leonard was fortunate to attend all SEC (Men and Women’s) and NCAA (Men and Women’s) Championship meets in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. In addition, his summers were spent alongside the Gators and the Elite Post- Grad professionals as they prepared for and attended the 2010 US Nationals, 2011 Short Course Nationals, 2011 World Championship Trials, 2012 US Olympic Trials, and 2013 World Championship Trials. Working with the UF and Gator Swim Club coaches, Coach Leonard assisted with the preparation of: Adreina and Yanelle Pinto (Venezuela), Alejandro Gomez (Venezuela), Arkady Vytachkin (Russia), (USA), (Great Britain), Steph Proud (Great Britain), (USA), and (USA).

Jackson Leonard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida and was presented with the University of Florida’s Bill Harlan Award. He is a graduate of Gulliver Preparatory School where he swam in high school, won All-American honors, served as team captain, and still currently holds a school record as a member of its 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. He is currently working on achieving his Certified Strength and Conditioning Certification.