Leo Lopoz (‘94) is in his 18th year as Vice President for Athletics and was previously the Associate Director of Athletics for seven years.
In 18 years as Vice President for Athletics, the Spartans football teams have won the North Coast Section championship every year, and have won seven state championships. Cross country has won five NCS titles, soccer has won eight, baseball has won eight, basketball has won eight NCS titles and two NorCal championships, volleyball has won four NCS titles, lacrosse has won seven, wrestling has won 13 NCS dual titles and 14 NCS team Championships, while Track and Field has won six NCS Tri-Valley Championships and five NCS MOC Championships.
De La Salle has also been named the East Bay Athletic League All Sports Champion School 13 times, the Cal-Hi Sports Boys School of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023 and the Cal- Hi Sports School of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Annually, De La Salle on average has more than 10 student-athletes that sign National Letter of Intent to four-year institutions, including 27 from the Class of 2025!
Lopoz states his philosophy on sports in education this way: “At De La Salle, athletics is a co-curricular activity in which our coaches are teachers first, coaches second. The field of play is an extension of the classroom where student-athletes are able to learn valuable life lessons and grow in mind, body, and spirit on a daily basis.” His top priority as an athletic administrator, he says, is to provide a safe environment in which coaches and student athletes are given the tools to become the best they are capable of becoming.
Among the improvements to the school’s athletics programs during his tenure have been upgrades to locker room facilities, including team rooms, training room, and offices; and major upgrades to the weight room, gymnasium, and pool. The baseball field recently underwent an 8 million dollar upgrade. The track and field facilities have been improved. New and upgraded storage facilities for all programs have been installed. The most recent project he has led is the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. He has led the school in the creation of the De La Salle Athletic Hall of Fame, a Sports Advisory Committee, and a new and dynamic athletic website. Recently, Lopoz has spearheaded the development of a comprehensive camp program which has raised significant funding for the athletic department as well as the Bishop Cummins Scholarship Foundation.
In addition to his role as VP for Athletics, Lopoz has taught classes in economics and in physical education while serving as department chair. Lopoz has coached basketball and was the head coach of the golf team for ten years. As head golf coach, the Spartans captured two NCS championships (2004 & 2005), two NorCal championships (2006 & 2011), and a CIF State Champions in 2006.
In his first year as Athletic Director, he was named CSADA NCS Rookie Athletic Director of the Year. He received the CSADA section Athletic Director of the Year Award in 2013. In 2020 he received the CSADA distinguished Sue Kamiyama Leadership Award. As Vice President for Athletics, Lopoz has served on the NCS Executive Committee, the NCS Alignment Committee, and the CIF Athletic Administrators Committee, and he a is a member of the NIAA, the California Coaches Association, the United States Golf Association, and the Northern California Golf Association, in addition to the CSADA.
Additionally, Lopoz is the founder of the Catholic National Athletic Association and has been the commissioner of the East Bay Athletic League since 2019.
Lopoz is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College and owns a bachelor’s degree is in Business Administration and a master’s degree is in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
