Elon, N.C. – Following 20 years at Elon University, Director of Tennis and Head Men's Tennis Coach Michael Leonard has announced that he will retire from collegiate coaching following the 2024 season.
 
"I'm grateful for the leadership I've had in Presidents Leo Lambert and Connie Ledoux Book," Leonard said. "Director of Athletics Alan White gave me this opportunity at my alma mater, and Dave Blank spent 17 years investing in the success of our program. Most recently, Jenn Strawley has provided tremendous support in the short time she has been at Elon.
 
"This is a bittersweet moment considering I was a student-athlete at Elon for four years and now a coach for 20. I am grateful for all of those who helped me along in this journey – the administration, the support staff, my assistants and most importantly, all my players who made these 20 years so special. I was fortunate to coach so many great student-athletes. I look forward to supporting Elon Athletics now as a fan."
 
A 1991 Elon graduate, Leonard returned to his alma mater in 2005 and has posted a record of 295-173 (.630) in dual match competition over a 20-year career. He is a seven-time conference Coach of the Year and led Elon to six regular season championships. Leonard is the winningest coach in Elon men's tennis history.
 
Under Leonard's leadership, the program has amassed 74 all-conference selections, six conference players of the year and six conference rookies of the year.
 
"Although I have only had the privilege of working with Michael for a short period of time, his love of Elon and his commitment to our student-athletes has been evident in all he does," Strawley said. "He has had a profound impact on the lives of countless tennis student-athletes and on our entire Elon family.  I sincerely thank Michael for all he has given to Elon, wish him all the best in his next chapter and hope to see him back cheering on the Phoenix often."
 
Leonard was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014 after leading Elon to an astounding 73-17 (.811) conference record in SoCon play from 2006-14. Elon moved to the CAA for the 2015 season and Leonard earned league Coach of the Year honors in both 2016 and 2019.
 
Three times Leonard has guided the program to the NCAA Tournament. In just his third season at Elon, the Phoenix went 23-3 in 2007 with a perfect 9-0 Southern Conference mark, advancing to the NCAA Division I National Tournament for the first time in program history.
 
Elon returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 after going 19-5 and again running the table with a perfect 9-0 SoCon record. In 2019, Elon went 21-5 and earned its most recent trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Leonard has also had recent success, coaching Elon to the CAA Tournament final in each of the past two seasons. The program has reached the CAA semifinals in each of the eight years in which a CAA Tournament has been contested since moving to the league in 2015.
 
Prior to coaching Elon, Leonard served as the tennis director at the Raleigh Racquet Club (1995-2004), where he was in charge of one of the largest junior programs in the South.
 
A four-year student-athlete at Elon, Leonard was named all-conference and all-district during each of his seasons of competition. He was a member of the 1990 NAIA National Championship team and, in 1991, was tabbed the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and earned the Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete award at Elon. An NAIA All-American in both 1990 and 1991, Leonard was inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
 
Leonard has two daughters, Olivia and Julia.
 
Leonard's Coaching Career
Year                        Record
2005                       5-17 (0-10 SoCon)
2006                       19-5 (8-1 SoCon)                            
2007                       23-3 (9-0 SoCon)
2008                       17-9 (7-2 SoCon)
2009                       21-6 (9-1 SoCon)
2010                       9-14 (6-4 SoCon)
2011                       18-7 (9-1 SoCon)
2012                       9-15 (5-5 SoCon)
2013                       17-8 (8-2 SoCon)
2014                       19-5 (9-0 SoCon)
2015                       10-13
2016                       17-6
2017                       12-12
2018                       16-8
2019                       21-5
2020                       6-7
2021                       15-6
2022                       15-9
2023                       15-9
2024                       11-5
TOTAL                    295-173