Jason Dean Leonard

Class of 1989

Jason Leonard was born in 1970 in Perry to Terry and Judi Leonard. Through his early years, Jason and his brother Chance worked on the family farm, which has been in the family’s name for more than a century. Jason’s Christian faith, working the family farm, and being guided by his parents instilled morals, discipline, and a strong work ethic in him.

Jason’s athletic career began at age four and continued through his Perry High School years and the University of Oklahoma. His primary focus was wrestling while he also was on the PHS football team as a running back and linebacker. A member of the 1986 and 1989 PHS state championship wrestling teams, he was two-time state champion, was undefeated in his senior year (37-0 record), a three-time regional champion, and a three-time state finalist. Jason also gained national honors with a state team that competed throughout the US. He represented the East at the All-State Wrestling Championship where he won the final match of his high school career. He had a 62-match winning streak (4th best in Perry school history) to wrap up PHS career, and his overall winning record was the 5th best in school history, 93-7.

He was valedictorian of his class and received the Outstanding Athlete of his class, Lions Club Outstanding Athlete, and John Divine awards.

Jason attended OU on a wrestling scholarship, 1989–1994. He was an NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American, a two-time Big 12 finalist, and a four-time Academic All-American and Academic All-Big Eight. He was also named the OU Top Scholar Athlete for Wrestling.

He graduated from the OU College of Law in 1997. One of his courses was the 1995 summer law program at Oxford University, England. He initially worked at an Oklahoma City law firm, and then in 2001 he and his wife Jana created Leonard & Associates, which focuses on employment law cases in federal court. Leonard & Associates is in its 24th year in Oklahoma City and Jana is business owner and manager.

Jason left private practice in 2006 to become the Associate General Counsel in OU’s Legal Department. Then he became the Executive Director of Athletics Compliance at OU, where he is responsible for the daily oversight of all athletics compliance operations and rules education efforts in OU athletics. He is an adjunct professor at the OU College of Law. In 2017, he was named to the NCAA Committee on Infractions and currently serves as Vice-Chair. And, bringing everything full circle, Jason became the Sport Administrator of OU’s wrestling program over a decade ago (one of his most cherished roles).

Jana and Jason’s sons Janson and JJ attend Tuttle Schools and are wrestlers, carrying on the family legacy.