CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte head men's basketball coach Grant Leonard is pleased to welcome Adam Short to his coaching staff, as officially announced on Tuesday afternoon. Short brings extensive coaching experience from various levels, and spent the last two seasons at Texas and Ole Miss.
 
"Adam's journey in coaching is inspiring," said Leonard. "Adam played small college basketball and was a heck of a player. He brings extensive experience from the NAIA, JUCO, Division 2, and Division 1 ranks, most notably the Ohio Valley, Big 12, and SEC. All that diverse experience makes him a rare commodity in today's coaching world. He will bring an exceptional voice and experience to our program."
 
For the last two years, Short has served as a graduate assistant for Texas and Ole Miss Basketball under head coach, Chris Beard. With the Longhorns and Rebels, Short was the Director of Player Development and worked specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Short was heavily involved in practice plans, scouting reports, and in-game adjustments for both power programs. Off the court, Short was a key contributor to recruiting and served as the head academic coordinator for both programs.
 
With the Rebels last season, Short helped Ole Miss rank sixth in the SEC in defensive scoring as opponents averaged 73.9 points per game. The Rebels forced the sixth most turnovers in the league at 12.4 per game, including the third most steals in the SEC at 7.8 per game. The year prior, Short helped a Texas defense rank fourth in the BIG 12 in scoring defense as opponents averaged 67.8 points per game. The Longhorns defense also ranked top five in the league in blocked shots and steals.
 
Before getting his start in high-major basketball, Short worked his way through the ranks of NAIA, JUCO, and Division 2. Short got his first coaching gig as a graduate assistant for the Avila University Men's Basketball program in Kansas City, Missouri before transitioning to an assistant coaching role at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. Following a season with the Tigers, Short accepted an assistant role at Missouri State University – West Plains. With the Grizzlies, Short developed and coached four All-Region standouts and sent four players to the Division 1 ranks.
 
The success led Short to an assistant role at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri where he spent five seasons on staff. With the Roadrunners, Short coached a pair of All-Americans and 15 All-Region players. Under his direction, Short sent 18 players to the Division 1 ranks and coached the school's only three academic All-Americans.
 
As Short continued navigating the basketball ranks, he landed an assistant position at the University of Central Missouri and an operations position at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. With Central Missouri, Short led the program's recruiting efforts while also preparing scouting reports and serving in a player development role. Once he transitioned to SIU Edwardsville, Short took over basketball operations and oversaw the team budget while also organizing team logistics and travel. His success opened the door for a graduate assistant position at Texas in 2022-2023.
 
"Words can't express how humbled and grateful I am for this opportunity to join Coach Leonard's staff here at Queens University," said Short. "From the rich basketball tradition, great location, and beautiful campus, Queens has everything you want to be a winner. I look forward to working with a high-class staff and bringing an ASUN Championship to Queens!"
 
Short earned his bachelor's degree in English from Avila University before attaining his master's degree in organizational development.
 
The Royals are coming off their second season in Division 1 which included their second straight ASUN Tournament appearance. Queens took down FGCU in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament before falling to the eventual tournament champion in Stetson. The Royals faced a challenging schedule which included Elite Eight opponents in #9 Duke and #14 Clemson. Despite the tough slate, Queens ranked 10^th in the country in adjusted tempo and averaged 80.1 points per game which was fourth-most in the ASUN.
 
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned on 2024-25 schedule announcements and ticket opportunities by following the Queens Men's Basketball team on Twitter and Instagram.