PDS grad is new Stuart AD
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Justin Leith has made the full circle back home and he couldn’t be happier.
A graduate of Princeton Day School, Leith has been around the world and back and now finds himself across the street from where he spent his high school days.
Leith, who has played professional basketball overseas and spent the past three years at the Asheville School in North Carolina, is the new Director of Athletics at Stuart Country Day School.
”My wife went to Villa Victoria and her family is from Trenton,” Leith said. “My family lives in Hamilton. We love this area and it has been a goal to get back here.”
Leith was a standout basketball player at PDS, helping the Panthers win a Prep A title his senior year and a Prep B title sophomore year. He attended UNC-Wilmington for two years and then transferred and graduated from Merrimack College in 2004.
Leith went on to play pro basketball in the Czech Republic before returning home to work at the Peddie School as strength and conditioning coach and faculty in residence for two years.
”At that point I decided I wanted to play professionally again and I played in Argentina, Uraguay, Malaysia, Israel and some other places,” Leith said. “When I finished playing, I went to the Asheville School in North Carolina was an Assistant AD and varsity boys basketball coach and then Associate AD and dorm parent.”
But there was always that draw to get back home and when the opportunity popped up at Stuart, it was one he felt he had to take a look at.
”I was very excited when I left here after the interview,” said Leith, who scored over 1,400 points while playing at PDS. “During the interview process I was able to teach a physical education class and I met with so many different people. The energy here is tremendous and everyone here is like busy bees working so hard. It is just tremendous. But at the same time everyone is very welcoming.”
Leith, who has a 10-year-old daughter, will be in a different environment working at an all-girls school. But for him the opportunity to work with young students is what interests him the most.
”I really enjoy young people,” he said. “I will be working primarily with the middle school and high school. It is really teaching life lessons through sports that is the main objective. No matter what your definition of success is you are going to find yourself successful. Pushing kids and getting them to understand that what they’re doing on the athletic field can relate to anything in their life.
”I was a strength and conditioning coach. I have been in athletic administration for a couple of years. I was a professional athlete. So I feel prepared.”
Leith started his job last week and is working on getting settled in. Since it is summer he has slowly been meeting the people he will be working with and is enjoying the process.
”There have been a few students around and I met some during the interview process,” he said. “It was funny that during the interview process the toughest were about seven fourth grade girls. They really grilled me. That was a fun part of the process.
”There is a lot of work to do. It is a great transition to get started.”
As he settles in, Leith is excited about what Stuart has to offer and what he can bring to Stuart.
”In a lot of ways being an administrator is like being a coach,” he said. “You delegate a little bit and incorporate your philosophy. It is still very team oriented. The students are the driving force. Working with young people and helping them become the best people they can be is very rewarding.
”I love all sports. I watched a lot of field hockey the last few years. Even at Peddie I watched a lot of the sports. I am very familiar with all the sports we offer here and I am excited to see the teams play.”