Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Head Coach
Anthony Grant ended his tenure with the Crimson Tide when he was relieved of his duties on March 22, 2015 after six seasons at the Capstone. Grant finished his Alabama coaching career with a record of 117-85 (.579) in six seasons at the Capstone and has led the Tide to three NIT appearances (2011, 2013 and 2015) and one NCAA appearance (2012). In his nine seasons as a college head coach, Grant's overall record is 193-110 (.637) at two schools, Virginia Commonwealth and Alabama.
Grant has led his team to three postseason appearances, three 20-win campaigns and 117 victories (19.5 wins per season). The Tide has made the postseason in four times under Grant, including three National Invitation Tournament berths (2011 NIT runner-up, 2013 NIT quarterfinalist and 2015 NIT), as well as an at-large selection to the 2012 NCAA Tournament - Alabama's first NCAA appearance since 2006.
Grant guided Alabama to three consecutive 20-win seasons from 2011-13, which is first time that has been achieved at Alabama since the 1990, 1991 and 1992 seasons - a span of just over 20 years. In fact, Grant has racked up 82 wins in a four-year span (2011-14), going 82-56 (.594) over that stretch. In his final five seasons (2011-15), Alabama's 48 SEC victories in the past four years are tied for third behind only Kentucky (68) and Florida (64).
In addition to leading Alabama to three straight 20-win campaigns, Grant also led the Tide to a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for three consecutive seasons (2011-13). It marked the first time since the 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons that Alabama had three consecutive winning seasons against conference competition.
Grant finished his tenure with a record of 117-85 (.579) during his six years at the Capstone, with an overall record of 193-110 (.637) during his nine seasons as a head coach. He has led his teams to seven postseason appearances (three NCAAs and four NITs) and six 20-win seasons during his Division I head coaching career.
Grant's squads typically display an aggressive, disruptive and disciplined style that has resulted in one of the top defenses in the nation during his tenure. In 2012-13, Alabama led the SEC in conference games with 9.1 steals per game while ranking second in the league and 18th nationally in scoring defense, holding the opposition to 58.4 points per game. The Tide held 24 of 36 opponents below 60 points during the 2012-13 season.
Grant's teams have been just as successful in the classroom, posting a perfect 1,000 score in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR) on two occasions (2009-10 and 2011-12). In all, six of Grant's teams (Alabama and VCU) have achieved that feat. Since Grant's arrival, the program boasts an average APR score of 985 during his tenure. Alabama led all SEC men's basketball programs in 2013 with six players named to the SEC Academic Roll.
Grant now has coached one Academic All-American (Levi Randolph - first in program history), 11 all-conference selections and 27 SEC all-academic performers during his time at the Capstone. Furthermore, Alabama basketball ranked among the top 10 percent of all Division I men's basketball programs.
It was more of the same during the 2011-12 campaign, as Alabama surpassed 20 wins while the Tide's defense allowed an average of 58.1 points per game - the ninth-lowest average in the nation and sixth-lowest in SEC history.
Alabama's defensive numbers in 2011-12 were even more impressive when taking into consideration the competition the Tide faced, as its strength of schedule was the 29th-toughest in the nation and the third-toughest in the SEC.
Following the first full year in Grant's system to acclimate themselves to producing 94 feet of pressure on both offense and defense, the 2010-11 Alabama team rebounded from a trying start to win 25 games and claim the SEC Western Division title. Fans helped make the Tide's home court one of the toughest in the nation, with a sterling 19-0 home record.
Three of those 2010-11 home wins came in the Tide's first postseason appearance since 2007, with a berth in the National Invitation Tournament. Harnessing the frustration of narrowly missing out on the NCAA field, the Tide cruised through its first three NIT opponents by an average of 15 points to advance to Madison Square Garden and the NIT semifinals for the sixth time in school history. A victory over Colorado propelled the Tide to its second NIT championship game, where it fell to Wichita State.
Along the way to the NIT final, Grant's coaching style helped make the Tide one of the best defenses in SEC history, as Alabama allowed only 59.4 points per game, the top mark in the SEC and the eighth-best in the nation.
Grant took the reins of the Tide on March 29, 2009, after a three-year head coaching stint at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he led the Rams to a 24-10 record in 2008-09 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. He amassed a 76-25 (.752) record at VCU, with a 45-9 (.833) mark in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) games.
Grant's VCU teams won three straight CAA regular-season championships and two CAA Tournament titles. His two NCAA Tournament appearances included 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 native, Grant is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference after serving 10 years on the staff at Florida (1996-2006) under head coach Billy Donovan. Grant helped lead the Gators to their first national title in 2006 and laid the groundwork for Florida's 2007 national championship before departing for VCU.
While Grant was 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 Championship titles in 2000 and 2001. In 1999 and 2000, the program made its first back-to-back NCAA "Sweet 16" appearances in school history and appeared in the 2000 national championship game. During Grant's time in Gainesville, the Gators advanced to the NCAA Tournament 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). Prior to that, Grant spent one season as an assistant coach at Stetson (1993-94). He earlier began his coaching career in the high school ranks in his hometown of Miami, where his teams won three state titles and were nationally ranked five times during Grant's time as an assistant coach at Miami Senior High School (1987-92). He went on to serve 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 eight NBA first-round draft picks at Florida. Prior to Grant arriving at Florida, the Gators had produced only two first-round picks in school history.
Before his coaching career began, 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 averaged 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and was named the team's most valuable player as a senior.
Grant, the 19th men's head basketball coach in Alabama history, is married to the former Christina Harrell, also a native of Miami. They have three sons - Anthony Jr., Preston and Makai - and a daughter Jayda Danielle.
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The University of Alabama, Head Coach (2009-Present) |
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|
Year |
Record |
Pct. |
SEC Record |
Pct. |
Postseason/Honors |
|
|
2013-14 |
13-19 |
.406 |
7-11 |
.389 |
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|
2012-13 |
23-13 |
.639 |
12-6 |
.667 |
NIT Quarterfinalist |
|
|
2011-12 |
21-12 |
.636 |
9-7 |
.563 |
NCAA Second Round |
|
|
2010-11 |
25-12 |
.694 |
12-4 |
.750 |
NIT Finalist/SEC Western Division Champions |
|
|
2009-10 |
17-15 |
.531 |
6-10 |
.375 |
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Totals |
99-71 |
.582 |
46-38 |
.548 |
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Virginia Commonwealth University, Head Coach (2006-09) |
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|
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 and Tournament Champions |
|
|
Totals |
76-25 |
.753 |
45-9 |
.833 |
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|
OVERALL |
175-96 |
.646 |
SIX POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (THREE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND THREE NIT), THREE REGULAR-SEASON CONFERENCE TITLES, TWO CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2007 CAA COACH OF THE YEAR |
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University of Florida, Associate Head Coach (2001-06) |
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|
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 |
|
|
Totals |
124-42 |
.747 |
53-27 |
.663 |
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University of Florida, Assistant Coach (1996-2001) |
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|
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 |
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|
1996-97 |
13-17 |
.650 |
5-11 |
.313 |
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|
Totals |
102-56 |
.646 |
45-35 |
.563 |
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Marshall University, Assistant Coach (1994-96) |
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|
Year |
Record |
Pct. |
SoCon Record |
Pct. |
Postseason/Honors |
|
|
1995-96 |
17-11 |
.608 |
8-6 |
.571 |
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|
1994-95 |
18-9 |
.667 |
10-4 |
.714 |
||
|
Totals |
35-20 |
.636 |
18-10 |
.643 |
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Stetson University, Assistant Coach (1993-94) |
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|
Year |
Record |
Pct. |
A Sun Record |
Pct. |
Postseason/Honors |
|
|
1993-94 |
14-15 |
.483 |
9-7 |
.563 |
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High School Coaching Experience |
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Miami Central High School |
Head Coach |
1992-93 |
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Miami Senior High School |
Assistant Coach |
1987-92 |
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Won three state titles and earned five national rankings |
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Playing Experience |
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University of Dayton |
1983-87 |
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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. |
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Miami Tropics |
1987 |
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Won the USBL Championship |
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Education |
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University of Dayton, 1987 |
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Awards and Honors |
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- 2007 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year |
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- 2008 USA Basketball U18 Team, Assistant Coach |
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- Won the 2006 NCAA Championship at the University of Florida |
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- 1987 Team Most Valuable Player, University of Dayton |
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- Appeared in two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT as a player at Dayton |
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