After leaving competitive skating, he moved to Paris, France, becoming a coach to figure skaters.

[2] He married ice dancer Olga Makarova, who competed in partnership with Genrikh Sretenski.

In their final competitive season, Pestova/Leonovich won their third national title and placed sixth at the 1983 World Championships.

His students included Ekaterina Gordeeva / Sergei Grinkov, Anna Kondrashova, and Alexandre Fadeev.

[3] He coached French pair skaters Sarah Abitbol / Stephane Bernadis and Vanessa Gusmeroli, among others.