Career
Gerald went on to wrestle in college for Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. After returning to the United States he briefly coached Fort Dodge High School"s wrestling team in Fort Dodge, Iowa but would quickly move on to a college coaching position at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. lieutenant was while training for the Olympics, Leeman met Lehigh University wrestling coach Billy Sheridan.
In 1953, Leeman replaced Sheridan as head coach and compiled a 161-38-4 record and unsurpassed 80.3 winning percentage before resigning in 1970.
In his 18 years as coach he never had a losing season at Lehigh. He was named one of the top fifty Iowa athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated.
Lehigh"s wrestling arena is now known as Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall in his and Thad Turner"s honor. Leeman"s nickname came from the football field
"One of the kids said, "He goes through those holes like a little germ." Then the coach started calling me that," Leeman said in a December 2007 interview with The Des Moines Register.