CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte head men's basketball coach Grant Leonard has earned a fully-guaranteed contract extension, Director of Athletics Cherie Swarthout announced on Tuesday afternoon. The extension keeps Leonard at the helm of the Royals program through the 2030-31 season.
 
"Grant Leonard continues to prove he is the right leader for Queens Men's Basketball throughout our Division 1 journey, and at this defining moment," said Swarthout. "He has built upon a championship culture rooted in belief, toughness, and togetherness, and he led this program to the NCAA Tournament in our first year of eligibility. This extension reflects our confidence in Grant, our commitment to sustained success, and our belief that the best of Queens Basketball is still ahead."
 
This past season, Leonard led the Royals to their second straight 20-win season with a 21-14 record and 13-5 mark in conference play. After being selected as the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Sun Coaches Poll, Leonard guided Queens to its first ASUN Tournament title and appearance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
 
"Today marks a significant milestone for Queens University and our men's basketball program as we announce the contract extension of Coach Grant Leonard," said President and CEO of Queens University Jesse Cureton. "Grant has not only demonstrated exceptional leadership during our transition to Division 1, but he has also fostered a culture of excellence that is foundational to our success. I have no doubt that the best chapters of Queens Basketball are yet to be written. This extension is a testament to our unwavering confidence in Grant and our collective commitment to achieving sustained success on and off the court."
 
The Royals non-conference test included four programs that made the NCAA Tournament this season, and ultimately prepared a veteran squad for conference play. Queens opened the ASUN season 7-0, the best start since joining the league. The Royals closed conference winning six of the last eight games to head into the ASUN Tournament as the No. 3 seed. Queens burst past West Georgia and Austin Peay before taking down Central Arkansas in overtime of the ASUN Championship.
 
"The alignment between Queens' mission and motto and our program has been so instrumental in our success during the transition into Division 1," said head coach Grant Leonard. "We couldn't be more excited to continue our journey together and look forward to so many more transformational moments. My love for Queens is infinite, and their belief in me has been inspirational."
 
After earning full NCAA Division 1 membership status last summer, Queens became just the fourth school in NCAA history to make the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament in their first year of eligibility. A finalist for the 2024-25 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, Leonard led a balanced Royals offense that saw six guys average double figures. Queens was 1-of-3 programs in the nation, including Texas A&M and Miami (OH), to have such balanced scoring.
 
While having a stabilized offense, the Royals were one of the nation's most elite offensive teams. Queens ranked 18^th in the nation in points per game (84.5), 62^nd in assists per game (16.0), and 82^nd in three-point field goal percentage (35.8%). Despite being a squad that was lethal from the perimeter, the Royals also ranked 14^th in the country in two-point field goal percentage (58.9%) according to KenPom.
 
The ASUN Preseason Player of the Year and a finalist for the 2025-26 CollegeInsider.com Nolan Richardson Award, Chris Ashby capped off his decorated career with a standout season. The sharpshooter averaged 11.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game across 35 starts. A native of Houston, Texas, Ashby connected on 111 threes, the third most in a single season in school history. In the ASUN Championship, Ashby tied the ASUN Tournament single-game record with 10 threes, matching his career-high with 34 points.
 
This season, Leonard developed three All-Conference performers, including Yoav Berman (2^nd Team), Avantae Parker (3^rd Team), and Jordan Watford (Freshman Team). Berman ranked second on the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game while adding 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Newcomers Avantae Parker and Jordan Watford found their place in the system quickly and made a significant impact. Against ASUN opponents, Parker ranked in the Top 25 in the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks, and made two appearances on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10. Despite being a freshman, Watford dished out a team-high 3.8 assists per game, the most by a true freshman in program history since Vashon Fullwood in 1992.
 
While the success on the court, particularly in March, brought attention to the Queens brand, Coach Leonard's famous sweater collection showcased his joyous personality and caught the attention of the nation. In a post-Thanksgiving clash in Charlottesville against Virginia, Leonard walked out in a festive "Leftovers are for Quitters" Holiday sweater, which took the internet by storm.
 
From that point forward, the fourth-year head coach sported multiple holiday sweaters throughout the remainder of the season, including ones celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day, while others commemorated and recognized historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr. during Black History Month.
 
Leonard's personality and coaching tendencies are no strangers to the Royals. Before taking over the program in the spring of 2022, Leonard spent nine seasons on staff. The William Penn University graduate served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being elevated to the associate head coaching role for six seasons. While on staff under former head coach Bart Lundy, the Royals won three regular-season titles and a pair of conference tournament titles. Leonard helped Queens reach the NCAA Division 2 Tournament five times, including two Sweet 16 appearances, an Elite Eight appearance, and a spot in the National Championship semifinals.
 
Following the departure of Lundy in 2022 after the Royals final Division 2 season, Leonard stepped into the head coaching role, prepared for the challenging journey of developing a Division 1 program. In his first season, the Royals turned in an 18-15 overall record and a 7-11 mark in ASUN play. Queens finished four spots ahead of their projected finish in the Preseason Coaches Poll and took down Florida Gulf Coast in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament. Earlier in that season, the Royals captured the Rose Hall Division at the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic, defeating Green Bay and Morgan State. Kenny Dye earned the "Iron Man" title by playing the most games in school history while also becoming the program's all-time leading scorer.
 
Queens carried that momentum into year two of Division 1 and put together a 14-19 record and 7-9 mark in league play. The Royals made their second trip to the ASUN Tournament, where they took down the Eagles in the opening round for the second consecutive year. Leonard developed the ASUN Newcomer of the Year in Deyton Albury while leading former Queens standout AJ McKee to Second Team All-ASUN recognition.
 
The tide turned in 2024-25 when the Royals posted a 20-15 record, their best mark in Division 1. Queens made their third straight trip to the Atlantic Sun Tournament before earning an invite to the 2025 Purple College Basketball Invitational, where the Royals defeated Northern Arizona in the opening round. Georgetown transfer Malcolm Wilson led the nation in blocked shots and was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a finalist for the CollegeInsider.com Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award.
 
Leonard has developed 42 All-League performers during his time in the Queen City and helped send 33 players to the professional ranks. On the recruiting trail, Leonard has shined and is set to bring in another impressive recruiting class. Winston-Salem Christian standout Nicholas McLean has signed with the Royals next season. A 6-9 forward, McLean is an athletic stretch that can shoot the ball at a high level. Additionally, Caleb Jones is coming to the Queen City following a standout season with the YNG Dreamerz in the Overtime Elite League. The 6-4 guard was named a 2025-26 All-OTE standout after averaging 27.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
 
Fans interested in season tickets for the 2026-27 season can request more information by clicking here.
 
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