Tom Leith

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Tom Leith (Thomas S. Leith) (1888–1960) was an American football, basketball, and track coach, athletics administrator, and a Michigan politician. He spent his career in Michigan and helped shape college and high school athletics while later serving as mayor of Brighton.

Early life and playing career
- Born in 1888, Leith excelled as a multi-sport athlete at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).
- He also earned a scholarship to Syracuse University in 1909, competing in football, baseball, and track and field. He even appeared as a quarterback in a 1909 game.

Coaching career
- 1910: Returned to Michigan to coach at Albion High School.
- 1911–1912: Head football coach at Adrian College (Adrian, Michigan), compiling a 12–4 record. He was also Adrian’s athletic director and coached the basketball team from 1911–1913 (4–9 record).
- His Adrian tenure included a controversial incident in 1911 involving ineligible players, which led to Hillsdale’s win being forfeited and Adrian being expelled from the conference before Leith resigned in 1913.
- 1913: Coached at Cleary University (Ypsilanti) and 1914 with the Mack Park Maroons, who played the Detroit Heralds for the city championship.
- 1915: Track coach at Detroit University School; 1920: Coached football at Brighton High School.
- Leith helped organize the first invitational track and field meet for a Michigan private college.

Later career and politics
- After coaching, Leith worked in real estate in the Brighton area and opened the Michigan Military Academy at Island Lake in 1921.
- He served three terms as mayor of Brighton.
- In 1950, he ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan, receiving 8,460 votes (about 1.5%), losing to Harry Kelly.

Personal life and death
- Leith married Ethel Duncan in 1909; they eloped and later had two daughters, Dorothy Louise and Clara Jean.
- He died on August 24, 1960, at the age of 71.

Head coaching record (Adrian College)
- Football: 1911 7–1 (3–1 in conference, co-champions), 1912 5–3; total 12–4.
- Basketball: 1911–1913, 4–9.