Queens University of Charlotte Head Men\u2019s Basketball Coach\u00a0Grant Leonard\u00a0is proud to announce the addition of\u00a0Dan Bailey\u00a0to his program as special assistant to the head coach and director of fundraising. With a diverse background spanning coaching, military leadership, and business development, Bailey brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable to the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan\u2019s experience in business, the military, and coaching gives him a unique lens that will be a huge asset to our program,\u201d Leonard expressed. \u201cAlso, his ties to the Charlotte community are evident and are a huge plus. Dan has a bright future in basketball, and we are thankful he is a part of our program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bailey\u2019s career is marked by significant achievements across multiple domains. In the coaching arena, he most recently served as the interim head coach for the varsity boys basketball team at Westminster Catawba Christian School during the 2025-2026 season, where he successfully guided the team to the second round of the NCISAA State Playoffs. He also led the junior varsity boys\u2019 basketball team, focusing on player development and preparation for varsity competition.<\/p>\n
Bailey\u2019s coaching portfolio extends to Harding University High School, where he led the basketball and soccer programs in 2025, and Team United in Charlotte, where he continues to coach the U17 team. Additionally, he has been a coach\/instructor at the North Carolina Basketball School since 2025 and has led various multi-sport programs at ROAR Basketball, Baseball, & Soccer since 2017. From 2010-2016, Bailey served as head men\u2019s soccer coach at Central Piedmont Community College.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at Queens,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cHaving grown up in Charlotte, I have always felt a special connection to this community\u2014I even used to sneak into the gym during off-hours to play as a kid. So, when the opportunity came to learn from Coach Leonard and the rest of this outstanding staff, I could not pass it up. I truly believe Queens is on the precipice of a historic run, and I am honored and excited to be a part of what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond coaching, Bailey has an impressive military background, having served as a squad leader and paratrooper in the United States Army from 2019 to 2025. His service was distinguished by leadership in high-pressure environments, earning him the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.<\/p>\n
In the business sector, Bailey has held leadership roles at MCI \u2013 Mechanical Contractors, LLC, where he currently leads the service division, and previously as President and CEO of Steele\u2019s Mechanical. His efforts in business development and operational strategy have been recognized with significant financial growth and industry accolades.<\/p>\n
The Royals are coming off a 21-14 season where they finished 13-5 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Queens captured its first ASUN Tournament title and made their first appearance in the NCAA Division 1 Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament. In just four Division 1 seasons, the Royals have put together back-to-back 20-win seasons and have become the fourth school in NCAA history to advance to the NCAA D1 Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament in their first-year as a full NCAA DI member institution. During the Royals three-year reclassification process, they were not eligible to compete for NCAA Championships.<\/p>\n