Leanna Bordner is in her 33rd year on the Illinois State staff. In her current position as Chief Operating Officer/Senior Woman Administrator, Bordner directly supervises eight sports and handles day-to-day operations for two others, and did a stint overseeing Redbird football. In addition, she serves on the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame Committee, is on the MVC Conference Marketing and Media Committee.
Previously, she chaired the MVC Women's Basketball Marketing Committee and served on the MVC Executive Committee as the Vice-President. Additionally, she served on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Rules Committee and the NCAA Division I Basketball Issues Committee. Currently, Bordner serves on the WBOC (Women's Basketball Officiating Consortium) Advisory Committee, and the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) Convention Advisory Group. Bordner also served as the NCAA Athletics Certification Liaison for the successful completion of the Cycle 3 certification in 2012.
On campus, Bordner serves as the liaison to the Athletics Council and serves on the Gender, Diversity and Student-Athlete Well-Being Subcommittee; the Redbird Proud Committee; Data Stewardship Council; and the Percy Family Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee. She previously served on the Preview Committee; the Mental Health Taskforce; the Culture of Respect Committee; and she was also a member of the LEAPForward Steering Team, which was the University technology initiative. In addition, Bordner served on the Educating Illinois Committee, which developed the University's Strategic Plan, 2018-2023.
She started Cinco de Redbirds, a fundraiser for women's athletics, and started the “Birds in the Burbs” program, a pen pal initiative with ISU student-athletes and children from a Chicago suburban elementary school. Bordner also started the “Play4Kay” initiatives around Redbird Women’s Basketball games and continues to raise record-setting dollars to support cancer research. In addition, in 2007 Bordner helped start the annual “Red Hots” party, held at the home of Julie Dobski. This event started as a friendraiser, and now serves as a fundraiser for Women’s Athletics.
In the community, Bordner is Chair of the Oakdale Promise Council; serves on the BNACVB Sports Commission Board; is the chair of the Red Cross Evening of Stars Program Committee; belongs to the Bloomington Kiwanis Club and THRIVE Rotary. She also served on the YMCA Board for 6 years, and was the secretary on the Executive Committee. Bordner served three years as the Chair of the Red Cross Board and nine years as a board member; and was the Honorary Chair of the 2014 Easter Seals “Walk With Me”. Bordner served eight years on the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Board, and also was the recipient of the 2010 Athena Award, presented by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Bordner started “Comm University”, which for 18 years was a tailgating partnership with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and local businesses at a home Redbird Football game. Other community events Bordner is involved with include “The Bed Blitz” committee, a local initiative that provides beds for children in the community in need of beds, coordinating the delivery of all beds. In addition, she coordinates Redbird student-athlete participation in “Day of the Dozer” another local event focusing on children; and served as the department liaison and a member of the steering committee for the 2024 “State Farm Million Meal Pack” held at CEFCU Arena.
Border’s career at Illinois State began in 1993 as the event manager, and in 1995 she became the marketing director. She was then promoted to Assistant Athletics Director/Marketing in 1997 and Senior Woman Administrator in 2002, a post she continues to hold today. Under Bordner's direction, ISU's marketing division experienced significant growth, as did the department's sales revenues. In 2024, Bordner was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to her work at Illinois State, Bordner spent eight seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Michigan State, part of a 16-year college coaching career. She also served as an assistant at Indiana University and Central Missouri State, where the Jennies won the National Championship in 1984. Bordner received a bachelor's degree from Michigan State in 1977 and a master's degree from Indiana in 1979. While at MSU, she lettered in field hockey, basketball and softball.
