Former HC, Current Dordt Kicker Leinen Says Persistent Led to College Decision, Success

Former HC, Current Dordt Kicker Leinen Says Persistent Led to College Decision, Success –

(11-12-23) – It’s been a successful start of a college career for "The Leg."

Through 10 games, former Harlan Community and current Dordt University kicker Stephen Leinen has hit 9 of 11 field goals, including a school & Great Plains Athletic Conference record 58-yd FG Week 4 vs Hastings. The Defenders are 8-2 and will play Ottawa (KS) in the NAIA playoffs on Saturday.

The coaching staff at Dordt has helped Leinen improve his technique to become a solid college kicker.

“I'm focusing on my cues and everything I need to do and we have a kicking coach here who is an ex NFL vet that really helps out and he knows exactly what he's talking about. He doesn't have to look at what I'm doing. He can just tell me just by the sound of the ball, what I'm doing wrong and what I need to fix. And it's really nice to have him here.”

The swiftness of play at this level has been an adjustment for Leinen.

“From high school or college football, it's a lot faster pace. There's a lot more going on at one time and everything just moves so much faster and you have to adapt real quick to that, especially being a freshman and playing on the varsity squad, it's pretty challenging at first.”

Leinen, an Agriculture major, said the recruiting process for him was long, but getting to know the coaching staff helped make his decision go to Dordt easier.

“Ever since, I want to say late sophomore year, they have been reaching out and that really helped out a lot to just be able to know the coaches and then meet them and know them on a personal level rather than a football level. That really helped out a lot and kind of made some of my decision there. And another part that made my decision of the education. I needed the Ag program and they had a great Ag program. I'd say it's probably one of the best in Iowa.”

And he has advice for those students who are or will soon be going through the recruitment process.

“You just got to keep being persistent about it and keep reaching out to coaches. That's what makes it really hard. Some of them just don't respond. Some of them take two months to respond and you just never know. You just gotta you can keep it in your head that you're the best and you can do it.”

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats