Grand Canyon University Club Sports

Sean O’Leary enters his 7^th season as the head men’s rugby coach at Grand Canyon University, and his resume’ continues to grow each season. In the past three seasons, “Coach O” has led the Lopes to back-to-back seven-win seasons in 15's for the first time ever; a deep run in the 2023 USA Rugby Premier 7's National Championships; then a berth in the USA Rugby 15’s National Championships Round of 16 for only the second time in the program's history last April.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, O’Leary began his coaching career at the high school level over 20 years ago, landing his first college job at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. After four seasons leading the Huskies, O’Leary accepted the head coaching position at the University of Notre Dame in 2007, where he helped rebuild the Fighting Irish Rugby program. During his eight years in South Bend, O’Leary led Notre Dame to berths in United World Sports’ Varsity Cup, and helped the university establish a women’s rugby program in 2009.

O’Leary then took his talents to the pro level, becoming the head coach of the Denver Stampede of the PRO Rugby North America League. While the league lasted just one season, O’Leary led the Stampede to the league title. O’Leary has also worked with the USA 17s & U19s from 1999 to 2008 and continues to help develop high school players.

O’Leary became the third head coach in GCU Men’s Rugby history in September 2019. O’Leary, his wife, Leslie, and their dog, Spartacus, now reside in the Phoenix area.