Mark Leader

Mark Allan Leader (7 January 1960 – 17 January 2023) was an American-Australian basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for Western Oregon University before moving to Australia where he played 12 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1983 and 1995. He then continued in Australia as a coach. Leader was a two-time NBL champion as a player and won multiple championships as a coach at the state league level.

Early life Mark Allan Leader was born on 7 January 1960 in Idaho. He grew up in Oregon.

College career Leader attended Western Oregon University between 1980 and 1982. He was the team leader in assists in 1981–82 with 102.

Professional career Leader moved to Australia in 1982 to play for the Ulverstone Redhoppers in the North West Basketball Union in Tasmania. He made his National Basketball League (NBL) debut with the Devonport Warriors in 1983 and averaged 22.1 points and 10.5 rebounds in his first season. In 1984, he served as the Warriors' player/coach and had his best statistical season, averaging 28.7 points, 14.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.

Leader was the first player in NBL history to record four triple-doubles.

Between 1997 and 2000, Leader served as head coach of the Ballarat Miners in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). He won three SEABL East championships in a row between 2005 and 2007, and in 2006 he guided the Supercats to the ABA National championship. winning a championship in 2015.

Personal life Leader became a naturalised Australian in 1987.