McKendree University Athletics

Drake Leeper came to McKendree University in the summer of 2018 to serve as a graduate assistant football coach working with the Bearcats' running backs. He recently became a full-time assistant coach for the Bearcats and coaches the linebackers and serves as the program's recruiting coordinator. 

In 2018, Preston Thompson emerged as one of the top running backs in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Thompson rushed for 1,073 yards on the, which is the second-highest season total in program history. He also registered nine touchdown runs on his way to first-team All-GLVC accolades. As a team, McKendree rushed for nearly 200 yards per contest in 2018, which ranked third in the league. 

Leeper arrived at McKendree after spending the 2017 season as the offensive and defensive line coach at Ottawa High School. There, he was responsible for installing the run and pass blocking schemes along with installing player improvement drills and managing the special teams unit. Leeper also gained valuable experience serving as an offensive coach for Don Beebe's House of Speed and with the Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

As a player, Leeper captured three consecutive state championships at Rochester High School from 2010-12. The Rockets' 2011 squad racked up the most total yards in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) history with nearly 6,800. A two-time All-Conference honoree, Leeper earned second-team All-State accolades in 2012. He went on to play three seasons at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.