Thomas "Tommy Gun" Leonard conducts football practice in the blistering Mississippi summer heat. At midday, the temperature seems like 100 degrees, and the players and coach are exhausted.
"If they can play out here in this heat, they'll be able to sustain anywhere because they won't face this temperature anywhere else," Juggernaut General Manager Tran Myers says.
As of the first week of June, Leonard is the new coach of the Jackson Juggernauts. Following a Saturday afternoon practice, an exhausted but eager Leonard talked about his path from his high school career at Callaway High School to the Juggernauts.
Leonard graduated from Callaway in 1983, where he was a celebrated starting quarterback. His play at Callaway led to a scholarship to play football at the University of Southern Mississippi, but after just one year with Southern Miss, he transferred to Mississippi Valley State University under head coach Archie Cooley. Cooley gave Leonard the nickname "Tommy Gun" after watching him launch a few deep passes.
Upon completion of his career at Valley, Leonard followed other MVSU football alumni to the NFL. After a quiet year with the Kansas City Chiefs, Leonard closed the "player" chapter of his football life, opening a new chapter as a coach in 1989.
From 1989 to 1992, he coached at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. After leaving Pine Bluff, he helped start the Jackson Youth Association.
In 1997, he got involved with semi-pro football as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Mississippi semi-pro football team, Mississippi Pride. Under Tommy Gun's leadership, the Pride led the nation in offense and was second runner-up in the National Football Championship, losing to Harrisburg, Penn.
Following his stint with the Pride, Leonard took a break from football. He grew tired of the sport, he says, and began a second career in the retail car business and spent much of his spare time playing golf with lawyer friends. Today, he owns Pro-Way Speed and Agility Training in Jackson, where, he says, "I teach people how to run fast."
After his break, football re-entered his life, and the Juggernaut chapter opened. In the team's first year, 2009, Robert Bronson coached it to a 6-4 finish but quit to focus on his work at the Mississippi Youth Sports Association. Leonard took heed of former Mississippi Pride players who encouraged him to take over the team.
Despite his love for football, Leonard was hesitant to take the Juggernauts
position.
"I researched the league and the owner of the team," he explains. "I was intrigued by the league's impact on the community, its charitable events and its goal of giving guys a second chance. I wanted to help these guys get their careers back intact."
Myers says Leonard's coaching is worth payment. "He's not getting a salary, but I may buy him a hamburger when we go pick out equipment," Myers says with a smirk.
"I'm just doing it for the guys," Leonard chimes in.
In addition to experienced players, Leonard also stacked his coaching staff with exceptional talent, including Tyrone Ashley and Travis Readus. Ashley serves as the defensive coordinator for the Juggernauts, while Readus serves as the offensive and defensive line coach. Leonard coached Ashley when both were with the Mississippi Pride.
Ashley is a former Ole Miss standout, where he played defensive back. While at Ole Miss, he received Most Valuable Player honors in the 1991 Gator Bowl. His playing career also included a stint with an Arena League team in Houston, Texas, as well as the Fire Dogs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Pride and three years with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian League.
Readus, the Juggernaut's offensive coordinator, played offensive line for Jackson State University from 2001-2005.
The roster is deep with guys from Jackson State and Belhaven universities, the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi College. Leonard says they have good chemistry and are working hard. He is working to have 45 players on the team roster and says they are currently close to that number. The opening for the starting quarterback position is competitive and undecided, yet Leonard expects the entire team to train with the commitment of NFL players.
The Juggernauts play their first home game July 17 at 7 p.m. Other home games are July 24, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11. Special community events with discount admission rates will be held on those days as well. All home games will be played at Newell Field on Riverside Drive next to Bailey Magnet School. Tickets are $5. For more information, call 601-665-7444, or visit http://www.safleague.org.
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