CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2014 When it comes to in-game fashion, Queens coach Grant Leonard is \u2013 as they say in hoops \u2013 in his bag.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI started this holiday with 40,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m probably up to 50 now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Royals coach is renowned for his sideline sweaters. But he wasn\u2019t always this festive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of might have been accused years ago of being bah humbug by family,\u201d Leonard said, \u201cso I think to counteract that I joking started wearing holiday sweaters to have fun. It kind of stuck.\u201d<\/p>\n
This season Leonard has had a sweater for every holiday that falls on the hoops calendar.<\/p>\n
From Thanksgiving\u2019s Leftovers are for quitters.<\/p>\n
Christmas was covered, Hannakuh too. Right on to Presidents Day, Groundhog Day and something for your sweetheart too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe internet you can find just about anything,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n
Leonard scours Etsy and has a few other favorite sites to supply his wardrobe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a couple of companies reach out and offer to make custom ones,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we\u2019re going to start selling patches to local businesses next year for holiday ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says most people are in on the fun, but not everyone has warmed up to his style. But he doesn\u2019t sweat it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cOne of the greatest coaches of all time was Bob Knight and he won a lot of games in sweaters,\u201d he said, \u201cso I think the sweater thing can work.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s not all fun and games. Leonard uses his stage to say something too. He\u2019s been seen in several Black History Month sweaters, as well as some celebrating Martin Luther King Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with disagreeing with what\u2019s going on in society, but how he handled it and how he projected it is admirable,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cAny time I can take a leader like that and showcase it that\u2019s a big deal to me. And I think that\u2019s an example to our players as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
So what\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did say this as a challenge, if we got to the national tournament I\u2019ve got to wear a St. Patrick\u2019s Day one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contact Nick Carboni at\u00a0ncarboni@wcnc.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow him on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n