Anweiler, McLeod among 2020 TCC alumni HOF inductees
Special to the Outlook
Former athletics director Brian Anweiler and current head baseball coach Mike McLeod were among the Class of 2020 inductees into Tallahassee Community College’s Alumni and Friends Hall of Fame.
The nine-person class was recognized during an on-campus ceremony in earlier in the fall.
Anweiler, a 1994 graduate of TCC, earned his bachelor’s degree in media communication from Florida State University in 1997 and a master’s degree in physical education (sport administration) from FSU in 2000. He is currently the athletics director at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C.
Including his time as a student, Anweiler spent 17 years at TCC. His initial job was with the men’s basketball team as a student assistant and, subsequently, worked his way into several leadership positions, including athletics director from 2002-08. His tenure as AD was highlighted by men’s basketball’s appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Game in 2006 and softball’s berth in the National Tournament in 2008. Anweiler also served more than nine years in the College’s Communications Office where he worked closely with the media, covered countless college events and served as the interim director of communications.
Anweiler left TCC in 2008 to become the College-wide Student Life Director at Northern Virginia Community College, located in the greater Washington, D.C. area. In his role at NOVA, he worked with students on college-wide initiatives that included intercollegiate athletics, recreation, student media, student leadership recognition and development, and other academic competitive teams. NOVA is the 14th largest and ninth most internationally diverse college or university in the United States.
Anweiler left NOVA in August 2019 to begin his current job at Wake Tech. During his time at NOVA and now at Wake Tech, Anweiler has become a leading authority on E-sports, one of the nation’s fastest-growing student activities.
When McLeod was introduced on Sept. 4, 1990, TCC had a rookie head coach, no facilities and a baseball program that had been dormant for 20 years. Fast-forward to 2020 and he boasts more than 1,000 career wins entering his 31st season.
After fielding a club team in 1991, the Eagles began play in the NJCAA a year later. Since then, McLeod has guided the Eagles to six Panhandle Conference championships and 11 trips to the FCSAA State Baseball Tournament. He has also been named Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year five times.
McLeod coached the Eagles to arguably the greatest season in school history in 2013, winning 46 games en route to the conference championship and the program’s first-ever No. 1 NJCAA ranking.
This past March 4, a doubleheader sweep gave McLeod his 1,000th career victory – all with the Eagles – and he will carry a record of 1,004-546-4 into the 2021 season.
A lifelong resident of Tallahassee, McLeod graduated from Godby High School then pitched collegiately at Middle Georgia College and Florida State. After a brief professional career as both a player and coach, he returned to FSU in 1982 and spent nine seasons as the pitching coach under legendary Mike Martin.
His coaching experience also includes an international opportunity in 2003 as pitching coach for USA Baseball’s –18-and-under National Team. McLeod’s former players include six Major Leaguers, five All-Americans, and more than 240 who have continued their academic and athletic careers beyond TCC. In 2002, he was part of the inaugural class of inductees into the Eagle Athletics Hall of Fame.
McLeod and his wife, Rose, a former FSU cheerleader, have two children and four grandchildren.
