Grant Leep was named the top assistant coach on the Seattle University men’s basketball staff on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Leep came to the Redhawk program following seven seasons as the head coach at Seattle Pacific University.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Grant as the newest member of our coaching staff," Victor said. "He is a proven leader who brings a wealth of experience to our program. His remarkable track record of success as a coach in the PNW speaks volumes of his coaching acumen and ability to develop student athletes. Grant's passion for the game, coupled with his strong character and leadership qualities, will immediately elevate our program and we are incredibly fortunate to have him join our Redhawk family."
Leep's ties to the Pacific Northwest are unmatched, spanning a playing career at Mount Vernon High School and University of Washington, to coaching stints at North Seattle Community College, Spokane Community College, Eastern Washington and SPU.
"Coach Victor and his staff have built a great program at Seattle U," Leep said. "Coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons, a recent WAC Championship and strong support from Seattle University leadership and athletic department administration, I felt the timing and opportunity aligned to make the move to join the Redhawk program. The culture within the program combined with the chance to continue my career in the great basketball community that exists in Seattle excites me for what lies ahead."
Leep compiled a114-69 (.623) record over seven seasons as the head coach at Seattle Pacific. He led the Falcons to a 17-11 mark in 2022-23, featuring an 11-1 record and a seven-game winning streak. The team was powered by a proficient offense that led the conference in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage. They also ranked third in conference scoring offense. Nationally, the Falcons were sixth in field goal percentage, 11th in posts per possession and 19th in 3-point field goal percentage.
The 2019-20 campaign was the Falcons' finest under Leep. He was honored as the GNAC Coach of the Year after directing the team to a 22-7 overall record with an 18-2 league ledger that topped the GNAC standings. SPU did not get to prove its prowess in the playoffs as the NCAA Tournament was canceled one day before it was scheduled to begin, due to the pandemic.
Lee spent 14 total seasons at SPU, moving from assistant coach to head coach on May 9, 2016, to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Head Coach Ryan Looney.
As the top assistant coach during Looney's entire tenure, Leep helped lead the Falcons to postseason appearances each year while constructing a school record streak of seven straight 20-win campaigns and a 164-51 (.763) record. Two teams (2012, 2013) advanced to the West Regional championship game of the NCAA Tournament. Seattle Pacific twice won conference regular-season championships, in 2010 and 2014, and captured the GNAC Tournament title three consecutive years, from 2013-15.
Prior to joining the SPU staff on June 23, 2009, Leep served the previous four years as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he helped develop Rodney Stuckey, who had a decade-long NBA career after being a first-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Leep joined the Eastern Washington staff prior to the 2005-06 season after spending two years as an assistant coach at Spokane Community College under former UW assistant coach Eric Hughes. The Sasquatch had a 40-22 record in two seasons with Leep on the staff.
Leep began his coaching career in 2002-03 with a one-year stint as an assistant at North Seattle Community College, working under Coach Billy Rodgers.
A 2002 Washington graduate in political science, Leep lettered four years for the Huskies from 1999-2002. He captained the team as a senior in 2002 and averaged 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a starting forward. Leep remains the Huskies’ career record holder in single season three-point percentage and career three-point percentage.
Leep garnered honorable mention prep All-America accolades while at Mount Vernon (Wash.) High School and three times was honored as an all-state selection.
Leep is married to the former Allison Richardson, a volleyball standout at Washington. They have two young daughters, Avery and Harper.