Vincent L. Lesneski

Abstract

Pingry Coach 1930-1973 Dynamic, Rough And Tumble...And Caring.

One of the most significant milestones in Pingry’s athletic history was the hiring of Vincent L. Lesneski as Director of Physical Education. Together, he and Reese Williams were an effective, dynamic team, developing mind and body, winning spirit, and character. By the close of his career, Mr. Les had been swimming head coach for 4 years, basketball head coach for 24 years, track head coach for 20 years, football assistant coach for 24 years, head coach for 12 more, and Athletic Director for the final 12 years of his career. Most of all, Mr. Les was known and loved for his rich mixture of sound basics, showmanship, and personal commitment to the development of every boy. For more than four decades, he dedicated himself to encouraging all of this students, no matter how unathletic they might have been. Mr. Les believed that, “Winning is important, but it is the means by which you try to attain the victory which is more important than the end result.” In the classroom, on the field, or at Camp Waganaki, it was clear to all that Mr. Les truly cared for “his boys.”