Sean O’Leary has served as the head coach of Grand Canyon University Men’s Rugby since 2019, helping elevate the Lopes to new heights on the national stage. Under his leadership, GCU has recorded multiple seven-win seasons in 15s competition, made a deep run at the USA Rugby Premier 7s National Championships, and earned a berth in the USA Rugby 15s National Championships Round of 16—just the second appearance in program history.
A native of Dublin, Ireland, O’Leary began his coaching career at the high school level more than two decades ago before landing his first collegiate coaching position at Northeastern University. After four seasons leading the Huskies, he accepted the head coaching position at University of Notre Dame in 2007, where he helped rebuild the Fighting Irish rugby program. During his eight seasons in South Bend, O’Leary guided Notre Dame to appearances in the Varsity Cup and helped establish the university’s women’s rugby program in 2009.
O’Leary later moved to the professional ranks as head coach of the Denver Stampede. Although the league operated for just one season, he led the Stampede to the league championship.
In addition to his collegiate and professional coaching experience, O’Leary worked with the USA Rugby U17 and U19 national programs from 1999 to 2008 and has remained active in the development of high school rugby players.
O’Leary became the third head coach in GCU Men’s Rugby history in September 2019. He and his wife, Leslie, reside in the Phoenix area with their dog, Spartacus.
