Lee De Leon: Shining His Light: Making an Impact for Jesus in College Athletics

Encouragement Conquers All

About Lee De Leon:

Lee De León, an expert in athletic development and external affairs, joined Middle Tennessee in 2021 as Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs. Previously, he spent two years at Louisiana as Executive Director of RCAF and Deputy Director of Athletics, leading the RCAF to raise over $42 million. At MTSU, he collaborates with University Advancement, the BRAA Board, and the Athletics Department, overseeing Athletic Development, Sponsorships, Marketing, Licensing, and NIL activities, and managing programs like Baseball, Tennis, and Golf.

De León's career includes roles at Abilene Christian, Purdue, New Mexico, Arizona, and Houston. As athletics director at Abilene Christian, he significantly boosted revenue and secured key contracts, establishing the Wildcat Club which raised over $6.25 million in its first year. At Purdue, he managed the John Purdue Club’s fundraising, and at New Mexico, he directed the Lobo Club. He holds a Bachelor's degree in marketing from Notre Dame and a Master's in sports management from Texas A&M. He lives in Houston with his wife, Lacey, and their sons, Landon and Luke.

In this episode, Justin and Lee De Leon discuss:

• The importance of being open to people from all walks of life and embracing discomfort for growth
• Lee's journey to becoming an athletic director and his mission to make an impact for Jesus through college athletics
• The power of making people feel special and remembered when fundraising and gaining support
• The unexpected bond between Lee's son, Luke, and a football player named Trey, igniting Luke's passion for sports

Key Takeaways:

• You can use your platform, whether in business, athletics, education, or any other field, to bring people to Jesus Christ.
• Be interested in others, ask questions, and make people feel special as Christians, even when it means being different and misunderstood.
• Develop a personal relationship with Jesus and dive into God's word, rather than relying on intermediaries.
• Life's troubles can be overcome through faith in God, and finding encouragement through Him and others is crucial.

"You have to be a light and represent Jesus in whatever circle of influence you're in, whether that's college sports or anything else.” — Lee De Leon

Connect with Lee De Leon:

Twitter (X): https://x.com/ldeleon5?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldeleon5/

Connect with Justin Fatica:

Email: [e-mail]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinFatica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustinFatica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinfatica/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinFatica

Justin’s Books:

Hard As Nails: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Nails-Mission-Awaken-Youth/dp/0385527179/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1696950768&sr=8-5

You're Amazing: https://amazingnation.shop/collections/books/products/youre-amazing-a-message-of-hope-that-will-change-your-life-forever

Win It All: https://amazingnation.shop/collections/books/products/win-it-all-the-way-to-heaven-for-catholic-teens

40-Day Prayer Workout: https://amazingnation.shop/collections/books/products/prayer-workout-devotional-book-40-days-of-biblical-reflections

Children's Book: https://amazingnation.shop/collections/books/products/youre-amazing-childrens-book

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.