CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When it comes to in-game fashion, Queens coach Grant Leonard is – as they say in hoops – in his bag.
“I started this holiday with 40,” he said. “I’m probably up to 50 now.”
The Royals coach is renowned for his sideline sweaters. But he wasn’t always this festive.
“I kind of might have been accused years ago of being bah humbug by family,” Leonard said, “so I think to counteract that I joking started wearing holiday sweaters to have fun. It kind of stuck.”
This season Leonard has had a sweater for every holiday that falls on the hoops calendar.
From Thanksgiving’s Leftovers are for quitters.
Christmas was covered, Hannakuh too. Right on to Presidents Day, Groundhog Day and something for your sweetheart too.
“The internet you can find just about anything,” Leonard said.
Leonard scours Etsy and has a few other favorite sites to supply his wardrobe.
“I’ve had a couple of companies reach out and offer to make custom ones,” he said. “I think we’re going to start selling patches to local businesses next year for holiday ones.”
He says most people are in on the fun, but not everyone has warmed up to his style. But he doesn’t sweat it.
“One of the greatest coaches of all time was Bob Knight and he won a lot of games in sweaters,” he said, “so I think the sweater thing can work.”’
And it’s not all fun and games. Leonard uses his stage to say something too. He’s been seen in several Black History Month sweaters, as well as some celebrating Martin Luther King Day.
“There’s nothing wrong with disagreeing with what’s going on in society, but how he handled it and how he projected it is admirable,” Leonard said. “Any time I can take a leader like that and showcase it that’s a big deal to me. And I think that’s an example to our players as well.”
So what’s next? Well the Royals are towards the top of the ASUN standings, and are eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
“I did say this as a challenge, if we got to the national tournament I’ve got to wear a St. Patrick’s Day one.”
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.