A current and former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff coach will be entering the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame next year.
Former football Coach Lee Hardman and current women’s basketball Coach Erica Leak were named to the hall’s class of 2026, UAPB announced late Sunday.
Athletic Director Chris Robinson said in a statement it is great for the university to have Hardman and Leak join the state’s hall of fame.
“Coach Hardman built a foundation of pride, toughness, and belief that still resonates throughout our football program today,” Robinson said. “His legacy is woven into the DNA of UAPB Athletics.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Coach Leak continues to elevate our women’s basketball program with her championship mindset, her passion for developing young women, and her commitment to building a culture that inspires greatness.”
Hardman, a Stuttgart native, played defensive back at then-Arkansas AM&N College from 1968-71. He first became a head coach at Dollarway High School in 1982 and went on to hold a 117-38-1 record with four state championships with the Cardinals.
He became UAPB’s head coach in 1993 as the program returned from its two-year suspension from competition issued by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, sometimes called the “death penalty.” In his second season, he led UAPB to the 1994 NAIA championship game against Northeastern State (Okla.), then to the 1995 semifinals.
From there, Hardman led UAPB into the NCAA as the Golden Lions joined the SWAC in 1997. By the end of his tenure in 2003, he had compiled a 64-57 record, making him the school’s all-time winningest coach. He later returned to Dollarway and briefly coached the Cardinals again from 2016-17.
Hardman said his induction is a great honor.
“The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame represents the highest level of recognition in our state, and the group I’m going in with is truly outstanding,” Hardman said. “It gives you chills knowing that my name will now be part of something so special. There were so many deserving individuals who could have been chosen, so to know that I was selected is incredibly humbling and deeply meaningful.”
Leak is in her second season as the UAPB women’s basketball coach, but her contributions to Arkansas sports began as a player.
Her teams went 53-0 in junior high before she moved up to the varsity level at Palestine-Wheatley High School. The Patriots reached the state championship each year from 1999-2001, with Leak’s team finally claiming the title in her senior season. She was named state tournament MVP and a Parade All-American.
She left the state to play at Louisiana Tech, where she helped the Lady Techsters win four consecutive Western Athletic Conference championships. Then known as Erica Smith-Taylor, she was a two-time All-WAC selection, a two-time All-WAC Tournament honoree and a WAC co-freshman of the year. According to a UAPB release, she scored 1,246 points with 250 steals in college despite missing much of her senior season.
The Washington Mystics selected Leak 19th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft, though she ultimately did not play in the league.
As a coach, she led West Memphis High School to a state championship game appearance in 2021 before coming to Pine Bluff in 2024 to take over the Lady Lions.
Leak said joining the hall of fame is an honor which allows her to reflect on her life and career to this point.
“It’s a reflection of your life being recognized, all the blood, sweat, and tears you poured in,” Leak said. “I’m very excited, because when you think of all the great people already inducted and then look at this year’s class, it’s humbling to be named among some of the greatest. I’m excited for my children and family to witness this, and I want to thank my AD for supporting me along with the Arkansas Hall of Fame committee.”
