Alabama Basketball: Dayton Hires Anthony Grant

Alabama basketball is not having its thunder stolen today. Collin Sexton and Avery Johnson will only cede headlines to Dayton and Anthony Grant for a few hours. When a good man does well, we should notice and Alabama fans should all applaud.

Very few Alabama basketball fans were disappointed with Anthony Grant’s exit from Tuscaloosa. Two weeks beyond two years ago, Anthony Grant was dismissed as Alabama Head Basketball Coach.

After almost six full seasons it became clear Grant was not the man to lead Alabama basketball. He had come to Alabama from VCU in 2009 after taking the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2009. After VCU knocked off Duke in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Grant became one of the rising stars in college coaching.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football

Grant inherited an Alabama basketball program that had stagnated in the last three seasons of Mark Gottfried’s tenure. In 2012, Grant’s third season, the Tide won 21 games and advanced to the Big Dance. Even with a first round loss to Creighton, there was optimism that Grant had Alabama on track.

Grant’s 2013 team won 23 games, but the wheels fell of in 2014, as the Tide stumbled to 13 wins. Beating Auburn is good for coaching security at Alabama, but Grant’s 9-2 record against the Tigers was not enough to save him. Basketball success requires much more than dominating a rival and Grant’s Alabama teams were never quite good enough.

Anthony Grant failed at Alabama at exactly what appears to be Avery Johnson’s strength, recruiting. Like Avery, Grant went after elite players. He even signed a couple, Devonta Pollard and Trevor Lacey.

Neither player reached their potential at Alabama. Pollard left after one season, the participant/victim in a bizarre kidnap episode by his mother. The Lacey camp (which I suspect included Mark Gottfried) determined Tuscaloosa in the rear-view mirror was the only road to NBA stardom.

Other Grant signed players, Nick Jacobs, Jimmy Taylor and Shannon Hale all eventually proved to be less than elite. Reactions when Anthony Grant was fired.

Disappointment in Grant’s Alabama demise was driven by the high regard of Anthony Grant as a person and builder of character in young men. In those areas, Anthony grant is exceptional. Former Grant player, Andrew Steele commented today:

A really good coach, an even better man. I concur. Unless the Flyers take on the Tide next season, I will be pulling for them in every game.

Next: See Where Each SEC Basketball Coach Ranks

Alabama basketball is building a championship tradition, behind another quality person, Avery Johnson. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and let us know your expectations for the 2017-18 Alabama basketball season.