Dakota LeBlanc joins the Cowley College men’s basketball staff

Before joining Cowley, LeBlanc was an assistant coach at Arizona Western College, where he helped contribute to 45 wins, aided in the development of two NJCAA All-Americans, two ACCAC Players of the Year, one ACCAC Defensive Player of the Year, three All-ACCAC 1st Team Players, and helped send six players to NCAA Division 1 schools over his two seasons at Arizona Western.

In the 2025-2026 season, he helped the Matadors reach No. 21 in the NJCAA Top 25 and later that year helped win the 2026 ACCAC Conference Championship outright for the first time since 2009.

Before AWC, LeBlanc was on the Middle Tennessee State staff as a graduate assistant for the '22-'23 season and the '23-'24 season. In the '22-'23 season at MTSU, the Blue Raiders secured their first win over a Top 25 team since 2016-2017 and the first home Top 25 win in program history with the win over No. 25, and eventual Final Four Team, Florida Atlantic.

Before his two seasons at MTSU, he had 4 years of experience in developing high school basketball players. In the 2021-2022 season, he was an assistant coach/JV coach at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, TN. He helped Siegel earn a runner-up finish in TSSAA District 7-4A.

Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson was sorry to see his former player and assistant coach, Reggie Scurry, move on to pursue other interests, but he is excited to add LeBlanc to his staff.

"Dakota is known as a hard worker and someone who will go above and beyond the call of duty," Jackson said. "He is coming off a conference championship at Arizona Western and has Division 1 experience under his belt. "We will absolutely miss Coach Scurry. He's one of a kind. Our relationship is also unique because he played for me, and we have a ton of great memories together. I wish him and Melissa the best"

LeBlanc said that since his first conversation with Coach Jackson, he knew he wanted to work with him.

"Coach Jackson is a winner, and his record speaks for itself," Jackson said. "Basketball aside, Coach Jackson's goals, morals, values, and aspirations for his student-athletes all align with mine. That to me is the most important thing."

LeBlanc earned his bachelor's in Leisure and Sports Management from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2022 and his Master's in Professional Studies: Strategic Leadership from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2024.

LeBlanc is grateful for the opportunity to join Jackson's staff at Cowley and is looking forward to coaching in big games.

"Between the success of Cowley and competing in the best NJCAA men's basketball region, I am excited to get to work and add to the prestige and history of Cowley basketball," LeBlanc said.