As a high school senior, Tom listed his ultimate career goal "to become the next Voice of the Wildcats"--and the dream came true, as he follows in the footsteps of Cawood Ledford, Ralph Hacker, Claude Sullivan, Jim Host and the others who have called the games for the Big Blue. The 2022 football campaign marks Tom's 25th year in that seat.
Tom began his work on the UK Radio Network in 1989 as host of the postgame scoreboard and call-in shows. Eight years later, he was named the play-by-play voice for Kentucky football and he added the basketball responsibilities in 2001. Tom has been at the mic for many memorable moments for UK sports, including the 2012 national championship for the Kentucky basketball team and the call of the 2019 Citrus Bowl win over Penn State, which marked the first 10-win season for UK football in more than 40 years. Tom has worked four Final Fours with the Wildcats and 13 bowl games.
Another Bluegrass tradition is part of Tom's broadcasting resume--thoroughbred racing. Tom is a two-time winner of the prestigious Eclipse Award for excellence in coverage of the sport and he covers racing throughout the year through his association with Keeneland. He has also worked as a reporter on the Westwood One/NBC Sports national radio broadcasts of the Triple Crown races.
Tom is a 6-time winner of the Sportscaster of the Year award for Kentucky from the National Sports Media Association. Others honors including being named a Distinguished Alumnus by the journalism school at the University of Kentucky and winning the Tom Hammond Media Award from the Bluegrass Sports Commission, for career achievement. He is also a member of the 10th Region Hall of Fame as a contributor, for his high school play-by-play work with the Bourbon County Colonels and Paris Greyhounds.
Through Tom Leach Productions, Tom also hosts "The Leach Report," a daily radio show focusing on UK sports, and produces the top-rated "Sunday Morning Sportstalk" show on WLAP in Lexington. Tom is an author, having penned "Rich Tradition" in 2009, telling the story of Rich Brooks' revival of the UK football program, and "Two Decades Behind the Scenes," which he co-wrote with Mike Pratt about their 20-year run of calling UK games on the network. Tom Leach Productions also managaes Tom's endorsement partnerships and speaking engagements.
Leach's love of sports was passed down from father to son. Alvin Leach was a member of the Lexington Hustlers, a semi-pro baseball team that was the first integrated profesional team south of the Mason-Dixon Line in the 1940's Leach's brother, Steve, was a standout quarterback at Georgetown College in the early 1960's and is in the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame. And Leach's uncle, Billy Hall, received a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky and played under the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Tom is a 1979 graduate of Bourbon County High School and a 1983 graduate of the University of Kentucky. Tom is married to Robyn Rabbeth, a former anchor for WLEX-TV. They have two children--Connor and Caroline.