One possible player in the University of Virginia men’s basketball coach search is out of the game. Former Virginia Commonwealth University coach Anthony Grant is the new head coach at Alabama. Grant will reportedly be paid in the $2 million-a-year range. VCU had reportedly made an offer in the million-dollar range to try to keep him in Richmond.
“We’re certainly disappointed to lose Anthony,” VCU athletics director Norwood Teague said. “However, his service at VCU was unmatched, and we want what’s best for Anthony and his family. It was an absolute honor to have him here at VCU, and Alabama is getting a one-of-a-kind person and coach.”
Grant’s teams were 76-25 in his three seasons at the helm at VCU. The Rams pulled off a shocking upset win in Grant’s first season in 2007, knocking off Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in March en route to a school-record 28-win season.
Virginia Commonwealth won two CAA Tournament titles and three regular-season championships in his tenure.
Grant had been considered a top candidate for the job that opened at Virginia with the March 16 resignation of Dave Leitao. Others included in the talk around a new coach include Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel, Minnesota’s Tubby Smith and Xavier’s Sean Miller.
– Story by Chris Graham
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