The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Scott Lechner Done Getting His Kicks: Jim Leard, longtime commissioner of the Willow Glen PAL soccer league, is stepping down after 20 years. But he says that he still might find some time to volunteer, and his friends are not surprised at that. Willow Glen soccer king Jim Leard brings his 20-year reign to a close He taught teamwork and sportsmanship and watched league grow to 1,000 players By Mary Spicuzza At any soccer game, with competitive young people on the field and passionate parents cheering from the sidelines, things can get pretty heated. No one in San Jose knows this better than Willow Glen's Jim Leard, who is stepping down after nearly 20 years as soccer commissioner for the Police Athletic League. Soft-spoken, easy-going Leard has settled more than his share of disputes since he first got involved in the countywide soccer league in 1982. And looking back, he is unfazed. Managing to sit still for nearly an hour, Leard sips his coffee and speaks of his love of soccer and his appreciation for the opportunities it gives children. Leard may be always on the go, but he breathes a laid-back attitude, from his flannel shirt and outdoorsy brown leather jacket to his views on the sport. "I just had fun doing it," he say, grinning. "I wanted to see the kids have a good time." Winning trophies never comes up. Rather, things like teamwork, camaraderie, good sportsmanship and the participation of every child dominate the list of priorities he set for Willow Glen's PAL program. During his career, Leard proved that setting such basic goals can have effective results. When he first got involved in 1982, about 450 Willow Glen children participated in the league. Now nearly 1,000 youngsters play on 65 teams, making Willow Glen the largest district in Santa Clara's PAL league. The eight-district league includes Milpitas, Evergreen, Santa Clara, Campbell, Cambria, Eastside San Jose and the Rose Garden. Beyond settling disputes, Leard handled sign-ups, set game schedules, maintained soccer fields, found referees and coaches--all while working full-time for Snap-On Diagnostics and Balco Division. And raising three children with his wife, Marti. "Willow Glen is a better place because of Jim," PAL volunteer Mike Gough says. "You could talk to any parent, and I bet most of them have kids who've played soccer for PAL on a team that Jim put together." Gough started volunteering for PAL after Leard recruited him to coach 10 years ago, and says that he has remained in awe of Leard's diplomacy, good nature and commitment to the league. "Jim has never gotten a dime for doing this, he just does it out of the goodness of his heart," Gough says. "I don't think anyone could imagine just how much behind-the-scenes work he does. He does the dirty work quietly and without a complaint." Leard, an Alameda native who moved to Willow Glen with his wife in 1972, first got involved with PAL when his daughter, Cyndie, started playing soccer. He served as assistant coach initially but quickly took on more responsibilities. Soon after, a group of parents and volunteers "appointed" Leard commissioner. "They just said, 'Well, Jim. We need a commissioner. We need you to do it'," Leard says. Leard never played soccer, and says he hadn't even heard of it until college. But the longtime athlete, once a swimmer and avid water polo player, has brought with him a clear understanding of teamwork. He's taught his kids the importance of teamwork--every child in the league plays at least half of every game. Leard has also helped local adults better understand the team concept--recruiting many coaches, referees and volunteers during his long tenure. With his youngest child, 18-year-old Alan, now applying to colleges, Leard has some new decisions ahead. The Leard's daughters have both left the area--Lorri is a doctor in Texas, and Cyndie is anticipating two years in Africa with the Peace Corps. Although he and his wife have no concrete plans to leave the area, they're leaving their options open. "With our last child moving out of the house, I just thought it was the appropriate time to get someone else involved," Leard says. But he's also leaving open the option of continuing to volunteer: "If I'm still here next season, I'll definitely still help out." Judging from the community's deep appreciation for all Leard has done, "helping out" seems an understatement. "What do you say about someone who donates so much of his time?" Bryan Jarvis, chairman for PAL soccer, asks. "Guys like Jim come along once in a lifetime. As a member of the board he's appreciated more than he could ever know." A new commissioner hasn't been appointed yet, perhaps because everyone is so shell-shocked over Leard's retirement. Becky Bruni, a parent who's refereed for PAL for the past three years, calls him the league's "dad figure." For those wondering how one man can do so much, down-to-earth Leard offers a pretty simple explanation. "I just can't sit around and not do anything," he says. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, January 13, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.