Western Connecticut State University

Brian Leighton was named associate athletic director of internal and external affairs at Western Connecticut State University in August of 2023.  He has been involved with the Wolves' Day of Diving the last two years which have seen record numbers in unique donors and dollars raised. (1,250 unique donors and nearly $120,000 in 2023 and 1,822 unique donors and nearly $209,000 in 2024).

Leighton comes to the Danbury campus following nearly two decades at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven.  He most recently was the assistant athletic director for operations and facilities and the Falcons' scheduling coordinator and head baseball coach.  As the second head coach in Albertus baseball history, Leighton received the reigns of the Falcons' program in the summer of 2004.  From 2007 to 2011, he served as AMC's sports information director and an assistant hall director on the Elm City school's campus.

Before arriving at Albertus, Leighton served as the head coach of the Coventry High School baseball team and was a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Eastern Connecticut State University, from 2000-04.  Leighton helped guide the Warriors to the Division III College World Series three times, finishing first, second and third, respectively. Leighton also coached in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) in the summer of 2003.

In addition to coaching, Leighton has been a facilitator for the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Leadership Conference for two years.  He has also served on the ECAC Championship Baseball Selection Committee.  Leighton served as general manager of the Torrington Titans of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) in 2010 and helped his club capture the Kaiser Division Championship title.  Most recently, in the summer of 2011, he was named the assistant general manager of the Mystic Schooners of the NECBL. Leighton also works as a professional hitting consultant with business partner and former MLB All-Star Matt Nokes.

Leighton holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport.  He is currently pursuing his doctorate in instructional leadership at WestConn.