North Carolina Central University Athletics

Matt Leone joined the North Carolina Central University football program in January 2020, after spending four seasons at Southern University. He is currently the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.
 
The Eagles have been one of the MEAC’s most prolific offenses the past three seasons. The 2024 campaign saw the Eagles lead the league in scoring offense(35.5 ppg) and rank second in overall offense 405.7 ypg), while also leading in rushing offense and sitting second in the MEAC in passing offense. Running back J'Mari Taylor was a First Team All-MEAC honoree after becoming the sixth Eagle to ever record a 1,000-yard rushing season, and offensive lineman Trevon Humphrey also made the All-MEAC First Team.

In 2023, as NCCU went 9-3 and was in the hunt for the MEAC title, the Eagles averaged a conference-best 35.8 points and 372.3 yards per game on offense. NCCU also had the league’s best passing offense, averaging 218.0 yards a game through the air behind two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Davius Richard.
 
In 2022, Richard led five Eagles on the First Team All-MEAC offense, including Offensive Lineman of the Year Robert Mitchell. NCCU went 10-2 that season, winning a share of the MEAC title and earning a spot in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. Along the way, NCCU led the MEAC in scoring offense (38.6 ppg), total offense (445.3 ypg), passing (234.8 ypg) and rushing (210.8 ypg).
 
In 12 games in 2022, the Eagles scored at least 40 points seven times (including three 50-point efforts).
 
During his last two seasons at Southern, Leone helped lead the Jaguars to back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West Division championships, posting a 6-1 conference record both years. In 2019, Southern averaged 32.8 points and 403.5 total yards per game, and in 2018, the Jaguars led the SWAC in pass efficiency.
 
In Leone's first two years at Southern, he coached the school's all-time leading passer in Austin Howard, who led the conference in passing yards per game (225.0) in 2017 and threw for 2,650 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2016. As a team, the 2016 Jaguars topped the SWAC in scoring with an average of 39.8 points per game, which was fifth nationally in FCS, and averaged 471.9 total yards per game and 6.5 yards per play.
 
The Jaguars were also responsible for 5,191 total yards and 54 touchdowns in 2016.
 
Prior to Southern, Leone spent nine seasons coaching at his alma mater, Webber International University. There, he spent the last five years as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
Under Loene’s direction, the Warriors boasted the program’s most productive offense. In 2015, Webber was fifth nationally and tops in The Sun Conference with 282.6 rushing yards per game, and in 2014, the Warriors won their first conference title and finished the season ranked 23^rd in the NAIA coaches poll.
 
In 2011, Webber quarterback Christopher Hart ranked seventh in the country in pass efficiency, completing 57 percent of his passes and throwing 15 touchdowns. Hart became an undrafted free agent for the Seattle Seahawks, and continued his pro football career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions.
 
Before taking over the role as offensive coordinator in 2011, Leone served two seasons (2009-10) as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and two seasons (2007-08) as the wide receivers coach at Webber International.
 
Leone was a four-year letterman at quarterback for Webber. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2007, and added an MBA with a concentration in sport business management in 2009 from Webber.
 
Since 2013, Leone has been an avid volunteer with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Youth for Christ.