Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
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LESLIE SCHLEGEL-DANOWSKI
Leslie Schlegel-Danowski, a dual-sport athlete and later the women's basketball coach, played softball from 1988 to 1991 and women's basketball from 1989 to 1991, serving as a captain on both teams.
As a member of the basketball team, Leslie ranks 10th all-time in rebounds with 583 in just two seasons and also scored 616 points. Her 24 rebounds versus Drexel during the 1990-91 season stand as a Hofstra record and her 373 rebounds during her senior campaign are also a program record.
During her senior season Leslie started all 30 games and averaged 12.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, which ranked fifth in the nation, and was an All-East Coast Conference selection. She led the team in field goal percentage (.457), rebounding, blocked shots (39) and minutes played (1,065), and was second in scoring steals (36) and free throw percentage (.679). In addition to being an all-conference selection, Leslie was also named team Most Valuable Player and was later named Hofstra's Female Athlete of the Year.
For her career, Leslie averaged 10.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game to go along with 82 blocked shots and 73 steals.
A pitcher on the softball team, Leslie made 79 appearances and 71 starts during her four seasons. She compiled 44 wins and 231 strikeouts during that time and ranks sixth all-time in wins and 10th all-time in strikeouts. She also compiled a .289 career batting average with 26 doubles and 64 RBIs.
As a freshman in 1988 Leslie posted a 5-1 record in the circle and batted .333. She went 10-10 with a 1.78 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 1989 and also posted a .303 average and 29 RBIs, earning team Most Valuable Player honors. In her junior season Leslie compiled a 13-11 record, a 1.05 ERA and 92 strikeouts to go with a .261 average and 16 RBIs. She closed out her career in 1991 by recorded a 16-7 mark, a 1.69 ERA and 55 strikeouts. She also batted .293 with six doubles and 15 RBIs.
Following graduation with a degree in accounting, Schlegel-Danowski played professional basketball in Spain. She returned to Hofstra in 1993 and served as head women's basketball coach for nine seasons, winning 90 games. During those nine seasons, Leslie coached the team through two conference changes. In her first season she coached the team to its first winning season in 10 years at 14-13. Leslie coached nine all-conference players during her tenure, including fellow inductee Kate Gordon-Clifford, and also produced two conference all-rookie selections.
Leslie currently serves as the girls' basketball coach at her alma mater, Bay Shore High School.
She resides in Bay Shore, New York, with her husband, David, and their children - William and Andrew.
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