Fort Worth Country Day has named Leigh Block as its new athletic director, effective July 1, 2021.
Block was one of five semifinalists of 19 candidates chosen by the athletic director search advisory committee to be interviewed on campus.
His experience over the last 20 years working at independent schools similar to FWCD, including The Walker School in Marietta, Georgia, and Lancaster Country Day School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and understanding of the many constituencies with whom an athletic director works, led to Block’s selection as the school’s ninth athletic director, the school said in a news release.
“Following a months-long search, a committee of coaches helped identify and attract to campus five dynamic finalists for the position. My wish from the start of this process came true: I had a very difficult decision,” said Eric Lombardi, FWCD head of school. “Leigh differentiated himself from the candidate pool with his proven success leading athletic departments in schools like Fort Worth Country Day. His success has been the result of possessing incredible work ethic, humility, communication skills, organization, and, most importantly, heartfelt commitment to kids and coaches.”
Block joins FWCD from The Walker School, where he has coached, advised, and taught English for 17 years and served as athletic director since 2015.
He is a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, English, and a master’s degree in English from the University of Florida.
He also holds the Certified Master Athletic Administrator designation from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and served as region president for four years. Three times, his colleagues selected him as Region Athletic Director of the Year.
