CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte head men's basketball coach Grant Leonard is excited to announce the promotion of Dan Bailey to Associate Head Coach on Thursday afternoon. Bailey, a 2012 Queens graduate, has been on Leonard's staff as an assistant coach since he took over the helm in 2022.
 
"I'm incredibly fortunate to coach at this wonderful institution, a place that has meant so much to me since my days here as a student-athlete," said Bailey. "It is truly an honor to be part of such a proud and successful program. I want to sincerely thank Coach Leonard for believing in me from day one and trusting me to be part of his program. I'm also grateful to my fellow staff members for their dedication and hard work throughout the years, and to the players for allowing me to play a small role in their growth and successes as student-athletes. They are what make this program so special."
 
Bailey has made a significant impact early in his collegiate coaching career, assisting the Royals to back-to-back 20-win seasons and an ASUN Tournament title last season. During the championship run, Bailey served as the offensive coordinator, which helped produce one of the nation's best and most efficient offenses. The Royals ranked 18^th in the country with 84.5 points per game and 62^nd with 16.0 assists per game. Queens had the highest-scoring offense in the ASUN and the 79th-most efficient offense in the country, per KenPom.
 
Queens attempted the 34^th most threes in the country with 28.2 per game, and connected on nearly 36 percent of those attempts, which was top 100 in the country. While opposing defenses worked to contain the perimeter, Bailey and the Royals also ranked 14^th in the country in 2-point field goal percentage with a 59 percent clip. On the outside, sharpshooter Chris Ashby was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year and finished his career as the school's leader in three pointers made. In addition, Ashby finished his career in the top 40 in NCAA history for threes made and was named a CollegeInsider.com Nolan Richardson Award finalist.
 
The year prior, Bailey was a pivotal piece on the defensive end, serving as an assistant coach and rebounding coordinator. The Royals ranked fifth in the ASUN in scoring defense and third in opponent three-point field goal percentage. On the glass, Queens brought down the third most rebounds per game and ranked fourth in offensive rebounding. Georgetown transfer Malcolm Wilson was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the CollegeInsider.com Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year after leading the nation in blocked shots.
 
In Bailey's first two seasons on staff, the Royals stormed into the Division 1 ranks and made a statement. In the first season, Bailey helped the Royals capture the Rose Hall Division Championship at the 2022 Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic and their first appearance in the ASUN Tournament. Bailey helped a Royals offense rank second in the league with 77.7 points per game while also bringing down the second-most rebounds per game with 37.3. In his second season, Bailey helped develop the ASUN Newcomer of the Year, Deyton Albury, along with former Queens standout and ASUN All-Conference selection AJ McKee.
 
The Queen City is no stranger to Bailey, as the Irmo, South Carolina native spent his entire college career in Charlotte. Bailey jumped on the scene as a rookie, earning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. The two-time Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference selection led the team in scoring and rebounding in two seasons over his career. As a senior, Bailey earned NCCSIA All-State and NABC All-District honors after leading the Royals with 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
 
"Dan Bailey is Queens through and through," said head coach Grant Leonard. "DB was one of the greatest players in school history; now he's been with us every step of our D1 history as a coach. The players respect him in the locker room, and he sees and communicates the game at such a high level. His promotion has been a long time coming."
 
Bailey is still etched deep in the Royals record books years later as he ranks third all-time in scoring (1,771), first in field goals made (687), second in rebounds (812), first in defensive rebounds (758), and eighth in blocked shots (109).
 
The success of his college career opened a door to a professional career overseas. Bailey spent multiple seasons in countries like Romania, Finland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. After his professional career, Bailey transitioned into the coaching world in 2013 by starting Gamechangers Basketball Camp in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2016, he took it a step further, becoming a tour coach and skill development instructor for AAU basketball here in Charlotte, where he worked with players to assess their strengths and teach them how to use those strengths to their advantage. Bailey also has a strong background in game strategies and basketball analytics, both as a player and coach.
 
"Queens is truly a special place, and I'm grateful to call it home," said Bailey. "I am excited to continue building a championship culture and looking forward to next season."
 
The 2026-27 season will be here quickly, and fans interested in season tickets are encouraged to fill out the form here.
 
Be sure to follow Queens Men's Basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for news and updates throughout the season. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.