Harmony hoops Coach Leonardo stepping down
Saying the time “just seemed right,” Harmony boys basketball coach Duke Leonardo announced his resignation this week to accept a similar position at Satellite High School in Brevard County.
“I wasn’t particularly looking, but I received a phone call from a former assistant that was coaching over in that area and he said the Satellite job was coming open. Traded a couple of phone calls with the Athletics Director, had an interview, was offered the job and accepted it.
“It’s a good opportunity and a great place to live. Pulling into the high school parking lot and seeing the Atlantic Ocean in the background has its plusses.”
Leonardo was an Osceola High assistant coach from 2013-17, where he helped Nate Alexander coach a state championship team. After three seasons as head coach at Freedom High in Orlando, he arrived at Harmony for the 2020-21 season where he recorded a 6-12 mark in his first season. The Longhorns improved to 16-10 the following year before recording back-to-back 20-win seasons.
The 2022-23 team went 22-6 and won a district championship; and followed that effort up with a 21-6 mark the following year. He was named Orange Belt Conference Coach of the Year by his county peers following that season.
Leonardo’s best coaching job may have come last season. After losing three top starters to graduation, HHS o posted a 19-9 record that included a 49-46 upset of St. Cloud in the District 7A-6 championship game.
Often facing taller, more athletic teams, Leonardo employed a style of play at Harmony of using tenacious, pressing defenses to keep scores low while attempting to “steal” wins in the fourth quarter. That strategy often worked to perfection as the Longhorns were 48-7 in the last three years when holding opponents to 50 points or less.
Leonardo was 94-43 (.686 winning percentage) and claimed two district titles, and leaves Harmony as the Longhorns winningest boys basketball coach.
“Duke is a tremendous coach but is a better person,” Harmony Athletics Director Randy Schafer said. “Under his leadership, our kids won -- and lost -- with class and dignity. He did things the right way and will be missed.”
Leonardo replaces retiring Paul Creatura at Satellite. The program is coming off a 9-13 year but has seen success, including a 26-3 mark with a district championship and Elite 8 FHSAA appearance in 2021-22.
“It might be considered a slight rebuild for next year, but the school has had some success in the past,” Leonardo said. “We’ll employ the same style we used at Harmony and hopefully build on the success we’ve had here.”
Schafer said he has posted the job and hopes to name a replacement for Leonardo in 4-6 weeks.
Duke went on to say he would miss the Longhorn family.
“We had some success, with the back-to-back 20-win seasons, a couple of district titles and some other big wins, but that is not what I will miss the most,” he said. “What I will miss the most are the student athletes. The practices, team meals and other bonding experiences we shared. Building trust, getting them to buy into our system, and then seeing them have fun playing is what I will miss the most.”
