Antoni "Tony" Van Leiden
Induction Class of 2012
Sports: Soccer
Van Leiden was instrumental in developing the Ottawa University Soccer Program. He served as assistant coach from 1965 to 1971, helping lead the Braves to three conference titles and three top 10 finishes at the NAIA National Tournament.
Van Leiden took over as head coach in 1972, keeping the program going after budget cuts and restrictions were put on the number of games the team was allowed to play each season. As head coach, he had a record of 20-24-2. Van Leiden resigned as head coach in 1976 and became an assistant coach for former Brave All-American Frank Lemp.
Van Leiden was a long-time assistant manager at several Ottawa grocery stores from the early 1960s to the late 2000s, including Cheney’s Market, Pence’s IGA, Ray’s IGA, Waymire’s Grocery, and Country Mart. Prior to the grocery business, Van Leiden was a fabric cutter at Mode-O-Day in the 1950s.