Carrie Schulz-Leany – 2006 Inductee

Carrie Schulz was born in Minneapolis on February 4, 1962 to Wilford and Ardis. Father Wilford was a soccer pioneer in the suburbs and has been heavily involved with Southeast SC for many years. Carrie played volleyball and soccer at Marshall University High School and later at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

After her father encouraged her to begin officiating, Carrie joined MISOA and started her career under the guidance of Steve Cook and R.J. Anderson when officiating was conducted with teams of officials. It was clear very early on that Carrie would be a very good official and she was soon promoted to senior referee status. Carrie was the first female in the area to be officiating at a high level and the NCAA took notice appointing her to playoff games. Carrie officiated at several playoff sites including the 1994 Final Four in San Diego.

It was through officiating she met her husband, John Leaney, the Head Soccer Coach at Macalester College. They were married on June 5, 2004 at the Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis. It was Carrie’s desire to have children and to her delight son Jack arrived on October 28, 2004. In October, 2005, Carrie was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. This particular form of breast cancer is known as the silent killer as there is no cure as of yet. After a brave fight, Carrie passed away on September 29, 2006, a month before her son’s second birthday. She is sorely missed by many, most of all her son and husband.