Highlights
- Alma Mater: University of North Dakota (2017)
- College Sport: Basketball
- Accomplishments: 1,000-point scorer, Unsung Hero Award recipient, 2014 and 2017 Big Sky Champion, 2-time team captain, 4-year starting point guard
- Additional Education: Master's Degree from Black Hills State (2019)
- Favorite Part of Being a Coach at NCU: "I cherish the opportunity to walk with our student-athletes through such a transformative time in their lives. I love to see the growth in our young ladies.”
- Favorite Bible Verse: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
- Twitter Handle: @Coachszabs
Leah Szabla is entering her 2nd season at the helm of the women’s basketball program in 2023. In the 2021-2022 season, she served as the Head Women’s Basketball coach at Crown College, where they showed tremendous improvement and set the foundation for a very bright future. They etched their most wins in over four seasons, recorded school records, and hoisted multiple Upper Midwest Athletic Conference awards. The 2021-2022 season is highlighted by: a first-ever victory over St. Scholastica, a sweep of conference foe, Northland College, and a trip to the Conference Tournament. Two players accomplished UMAC all-conference awards, set game records of points in a game, and field goals made. Szabla’s team saw huge improvements over the course of the season.
Prior to her time as Head Coach of the Crown College Polars, she served as an assistant coach at North Central University. During her time at NCU, the team won their first UMAC championship in school history. Szabla was a key piece to their success, as she oversaw their defensive efforts. She also served as the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Services. Szabla spent the 2019-2020 season as the Recruiting Coordinator at Wayne State College. She coached three Northern Sun All-Conference players and a Division II All-American. Szabla first began coaching at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference powerhouse, Black Hill State University. She was a Graduate-Assistant from 2017-2019, where she oversaw their player development and recruiting strategies. The 2017-2018 season was historic, as they received an at-large bid to the NCAA DII tournament. Her coaching career has been marked by elite culture-building, leadership development, recruiting efforts, and strategy.
Szabla’s playing career at the University of North Dakota was nothing-short of impressive. She competed at the highest-level in the Big Sky Conference. She was an instrumental member of two championship seasons and a 4-year starter. She was a two-time team captain, 1,000-point scorer, and UND Athletics Unsung Hero recipient. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of North Dakota and her master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University.
Szabla resides in Bloomington, MN. She also serves as a coach for a local girls AAU program: Metro Stars.
