Anthony Grant Introduced as Alabama's Men's Basketball Coach
3/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 29, 2009
Grant Arrival Photogallery | Grant Bio Sheet 
| What They're Saying About Grant
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Anthony Grant was formally introduced as the University of Alabama head men's basketball coach in a press conference Sunday evening in the Naylor Stone Media Room.
Grant and his family arrived in Tuscaloosa Sunday afternoon and were greeted at the airport by an enthusiastic crowd before being ushered to campus for their official introduction to members of the media and University administration.
Grant, the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University since 2006, led the Rams to a 24-10 record this past season and a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to UCLA in the final seconds, 65-64. The NCAA appearance was the second in Grant's three-year tenure at VCU and third straight postseason appearance. At VCU, he amassed a 76-25 (.752) record and a 45-9 (.833) mark in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) games.
Grant comes to UA after leading the Rams to their third-straight CAA regular-season championship and second CAA Tournament title under his watch. In his two NCAA Tournament appearances he has a 1-2 record with a 79-77 upset win over Duke in the 2007 tournament. That season saw Grant lead the Rams to a program best 28-7 record and CAA Coach of the Year honors.
A Miami, Fla., native, Grant is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference having served 10 years on the staff at Florida, five years (1996-2001) as an assistant coach and five years as associate head coach under Billy Donovan (2002-06). Grant helped lead the Gators to their first national title in 2006 and laid the groundwork for UF's 2007 national championship before departing for VCU.
While on the Florida staff, the Gators won the SEC Tournament in 2005 and 2006, captured three SEC Eastern Division titles (2000, 2001 and 2002) and earned back-to-back SEC Championships in 2000 and 2001. In 1999 and 2000, the program made its first back-to-back 'Sweet 16' appearances in school history and appeared in the national championship game in 2000. During Grant's time in Gainesville, the Gators advanced to the NCAA Tournament in eight straight seasons and compiled a 226-98 (.698) record.
Grant followed Donovan to Florida in 1996 after spending two seasons at Marshall (1994-96) as Donovan's top assistant. Prior to that, he spent one season as an assistant coach at Stetson (1993-94). Grant began his coaching career in the high school ranks in his hometown of Miami, Fla., where he won three state titles and was nationally ranked five times as an assistant at Miami Senior High School (1987-92) before serving one season as head coach at Miami Central High School (1992-93).
Noted as a strong recruiter, Grant recruited and coached nine McDonald's All-Americans and seven NBA first-round draft picks at Florida. Four of his last seven recruiting classes at UF were ranked in the top five nationally. At VCU his 2007 recruiting class was ranked as the fifth best in the mid-major ranks.
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Grant played his collegiate career at the University of Dayton (1983-87), guiding the Flyers to a 70-49 (.588) overall mark, a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT berth. In his 105 appearances in a Flyer uniform, Grant registered 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and was named the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior.
Grant, who will be the 19th men's head basketball coach in Alabama history, is married to the former Christina Harrell of Miami, Fla. They have three sons - Anthony, Preston and Makai - and one daughter, Jayda Danielle.
THE Anthony Grant FILE
| Virginia Commonwealth University Head Coach, 2006-09 | |||||
| Year | Record | Pct. | CAA Record | Pct. | Postseason/Honors |
| 2008-09 | 24-10 | .706 | 14-4 | .778 | NCAA First Round/ CAA Regular season and Tournament champions |
| 2007-08 | 24-8 | .750 | 15-3 | .833 | NIT First Round/ CAA Regular season champions |
| 2006-07 | 28-7 | .800 | 16-2 | .889 | NCAA Second Round/ CAA Regular season champions CAA Tournament champions |
| Total | 76-25 | .752 | 45-9 | .833 | |
| | |||||
| University of Florida Associate Head Coach, 2001-06 | |||||
| Year | Record | Pct. | SEC Record | Pct. | Postseason/Honors |
| 2005-06 | 33-6 | .846 | 10-6 | .625 | NCAA National Champions/ SEC Tournament Champions |
| 2004-05 | 24-8 | .750 | 12-4 | .750 | NCAA Second Round/ SEC Tournament Champions |
| 2003-04 | 20-11 | .645 | 9-7 | .563 | NCAA First Round |
| 2002-03 | 25-8 | .757 | 12-4 | .750 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2001-02 | 22-9 | .710 | 10-6 | .625 | NCAA First Round/ SEC East Champions |
| Total | 124-42 | .747 | 53-27 | .663 | |
| | |||||
| University of Florida Assistant Coach, 1996-2001 | |||||
| Year | Record | Pct. | SEC Record | Pct. | Postseason/Honors |
| 2000-01 | 24-7 | .774 | 12-4 | .750 | NCAA Second Round |
| 1999-00 | 29-8 | .784 | 12-4 | .750 | NCAA Finals/ SEC Champions |
| 1998-99 | 22-9 | .710 | 10-6 | .625 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 1997-98 | 14-15 | .483 | 6-10 | .375 | |
| 1996-97 | 13-17 | .650 | 5-11 | .313 | |
| Total | 102-56 | .646 | 45-35 | .563 | |
| | |||||
| Marshall University Assistant Coach, 1994-96 | |||||
| Year | Record | Pct. | SoCon Record | Pct. | Postseason/Honors |
| 1995-96 | 17-11 | .608 | 8-6 | .571 | |
| 1994-95 | 18-9 | .667 | 10-4 | .714 | |
| Total | 25-20 | .625 | 18-10 | .642 | |
| | |||||
| Stetson University Assistant Coach, 1993-94 | |||||
| Year | Record | Pct. | ASun Record | Pct. | Postseason/Honors |
| 1993-94 | 14-15 | .483 | 9-7 | .563 | |
| Total | 14-15 | .483 | 9-7 | .563 | |
| High School Coaching Experience | ||
| Miami Central High School | Head Coach | 1992-93 |
| Miami Senior High School | Assistant Coach | 1987-92 |
| Won three state titles and earned five national rankings | ||
| Playing Experience | |
| University of Dayton | 1983-87 |
| Led the Flyers to a 70-49 (.588) overall mark, a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT berth. Averaged 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and was named the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior. | |
| Miami Tropics (USBL) | 1987 |
| Won the USBL championship | |
| Education | |
| University of Dayton, 1987 | 1983-87 |
| Awards and Honors | |
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