Bio

The 2026-27 season will mark Ivan Leal's third on staff with Butler men's basketball.

Leal's second season with Butler was one of the most successful in program history. He helped the Grizzlies to the 2026 NJCAA Plains District Championship, defeating Barton in Great Bend 111-103 in the championship game. The Plains District Championship secured the Grizzlies a place at the 2026 NJCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Butler defeated Snow in its opening game, but fell to the eventual national champion and No. 1-seeded Howard College in a double overtime thriller, 134-128. Butler also claimed a share of the KJCCC regular season title for the first time since 2015. Leal also coached Tristan Hankins to a plethora of awards, including being the program's first NJCAA All-American selection since 2010. Hankins was also named the KJCCC Co-Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, while also being a first-team all-conference choice.

Leal helped Butler to a Region 6 semifinal finish in his first season in El Dorado in 2025. The Grizzlies finished 22-11 and 15-9 in league play. They were 4-4 vs. NJCAA top-25 teams including a win over No. 5 Cowley in the regular season finale. The Grizzlies climbed to No. 5 in the NJCAA D1 rankings in December, the program's highest ranking since the 2014-15 season. Leal helped mentor three All-KJCCC selections.

Prior to Butler, Leal most recently served as an assistant coach for Sunrise Christian Academy's post graduate team from 2020-2024.

Serving as an assistant coach at Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Leal helped guide them to four National Tournament appearances ('20, '22, '23, '24) as well as a National Championship runner up finish in 2023. Sunrise finished with a 33-4 record in 2022-23, the  highest win total in program history. Throughout Leal's tenure, Sunrise amassed a record of 65-35 and Leal played a part in developing 35 student-athletes that went on to sign with NCAA Division 1 programs. Leal's duties included coordinating game day operations, team travel, serving as an academic advisor, film breakdown and scouting, player development workouts, scheduling and recruiting.

Prior to his time in Wichita, Leal spent three seasons (2016-19) in the KJCCC as an assistant coach at Garden City Community College. Leal handled video coordination, strength and conditioning, player development, helped build practice plans, coordinated team travel, aided in recruiting and monitored academics for the program. Throughout his stint in Garden City, Leal saw 10 Broncbusters ink with NCAA Division 1 programs and 10 earn All-KJCCC recognition. The 2017-18 squad advanced to the Region VI semifinals with Leal on staff. Leal helped mentor the 2018 KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Otchere during the same season that the Broncbusters set a program record for three pointers made (262).

He received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University in 2016.

Leal and his wife, Kari, reside in Wichita.