Remembering the 'Father' of Fairfield Athletics
In the late 1940s, a faculty member and a young Jesuit, Victor
Leeber approached President 
James Dolan, S.J. and said, "We should give students more than just
academics for their tuition." He suggested that a cross country
team be started and believed that Fairfield's campus would be ideal
for such a team. Fr. Dolan agreed and asked him to
organize the program. In the fall of 1948, the Fairfield cross country team was established as the school's first varsity sport.
Fr. Leeber would hold the post as head coach until 1950 and is credited with founding five more varsity sports programs - track, football, men's and women's swimming, and men's basketball. With that, he was officially dubbed the "Father of Fairfield Athletics."
Nearly 61 years after founding the cross country program, Rev. Victor F. Leeber, S.J., passed at Campion Center in Weston, Mass at the age of 87.
"We have truly lost one of our founding fathers. Fr. Leeber not only helped to successfully launch Fairfield University, but his many years of dedicated service helped it to thrive," Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, University president, said. "He will long be remembered through the countless lives he impacted as a priest, teacher and mentor."
Athletic Director Eugene P. Doris said, "Everyone just loved Fr. Leeber. He had a great sense of humor and a great loyalty to our student-athletes. They could always depend on him for his good counsel and encouragement."
In addition to his athletic contributions, during 45 years at Fairfield University, Fr. Leeber founded and chaired the modern languages and literature department, where he taught Spanish, French and Italian to generations of students.
Fr. Leeber retired from teaching in 1992, but remained active as a tutor and mentor to student-athletes. He was chaplain to several teams, frequently traveling to away games. In 1992, he was inducted into the Alumni Association's Hall of Fame and in 2003 was honored at The Fairfield Awards Dinner with the Honorary Alumnus Award.
After his receiving his Hall of Fame induction, Fr. Leeber commented, "I rejoice that I was able to play a small part when we were just beginning. Well begun is half done."
In 2005, the Stags' annual cross country invitational held on campus was renamed the Fr. Victor F. Leeber Invitational. The bib emblazoned with the number "1" was officially retired in Fr. Leeber's honor and will not be worn by another runner again.
This year, the Stags performance at the Leeber Invitational was
dedicated to the beloved Father of Athletics. Fairfield had one of
its best performances in recent memory, as the women's team placed
second while the men finished third; a combined eight Stags
finishing in the top-15. Prior to the awards ceremony, Fairfield
along with more than 275 competitors from nine schools shared a
moment of silence for Fr. Leeber.
