Queens’ fearless coach takes his shot
The university has the chance to become the latest “Cinderella” story
The following article appeared in the March 16, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
‘A dream come true’: How Grant Leonard took an unlikely path to lead small Queens University of Charlotte to one of basketball’s biggest spotlights
by Carroll Walton
Grant Leonard abandoned an egg and cheese crescent two bites in on Friday morning, the fork still stuck in a side of potatoes, courtside at Queens University of Charlotte’s Levine Center.
It was 10:15 a.m., a week before his basketball team would play in its first NCAA Tournament, and a late breakfast just got later.
Another in a litany of interviews ran up to the start of practice for the 45-year-old coach who’s been shoe-horning media appearances, a recruiting trip to Florida and a few hours of sleep at most into his daily schedule.
Leonard, the Royals’ coach since 2022, has been running on fumes lately, as the pace of the team’s season has picked up. On Friday, he’ll lead the team against Purdue as big underdogs, with the chance to become the latest “Cinderella” story in a field of 68 that pairs powerhouses with less-heralded opponents.