Head Coach

Leonard is known in the soccer community as an exceptional coach and an even better human being. He is a part of the Positive Coaching Alliance and earned his certificate as The Double-Goal Coach®, who strives to win while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.

Griffin as a Player

Griffin is a So Cal Native who was recruited to play at UCLA from 2000-03. The 2003 First Team All-American honoree led the Bruins to an NCAA Championship Title in 2002.

Professional Career

Griffin gained MLS experience playing with with the Chicago Fire (2004-06), the Columbus Crew (2007-08), and the Los Angeles Galaxy (2006). In addition, he played professionally at the USL level with the Portland Timbers and Austin Aztex.

Griffin as a Coach

Leonard is the current Division 1 GCU Men’s Head Coach and led his team to a WCC conference championship. Prior he was the sixth head coach in USF men's soccer's illustrious history. Prior to becoming a Don, Griffin spent three seasons as the head assistant coach at the University of Portland. He inherited a program that has won five national championships, 35 West Coast Conference titles and produced 48 All-Americans

Griffin, with eight years of Division I assistant coaching experience, has recruited, coached and developed 35 professional players in MLS, USL and abroad. In his first season as the Pilots' assistant coach, Griffin helped guide the team to a 2016 West Coast Conference Championship. He coached three Far West Region Team players and MLS players: Benji Michel (Orlando City), Paul Christensen (Atlanta United), Kris Reaves (FC Dallas) and Rey Ortiz (FC Cincinnati).

Prior to joining the Portland staff, he spent two years at UCLA where the Bruins advanced to the NCAA College Cup finals in 2014. Griffin coached nine all-Pac-12 players, including 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Leo Stoltz and 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez.

Griffin spent a season as an assistant coach at California in 2013, guiding Cal to a NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. At the time, the Golden Bears received the No. 4 overall ranking in the NCAA, which was the highest ranking in school history.

Prior to Cal, Griffin spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's. There, he led the Gaels to the NCAA Elite Eight and a WCC Championship in 2011.