College Basketball: Ranking the Top 10 coaching hires for 2017-18
7. Anthony Grant, Dayton Flyers
Anthony Grant is back in college basketball for the first time since being fired by Alabama following the 2014-15 campaign. Grant had been an assistant coach under Billy Donovan with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 51-year old comes to a program that has made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four years. Granted Grant has some retooling to do as the Flyers lost a number of quality of players from last year’s squad, but Grant is a quality coach so Dayton should remain as one of the A-10’s flag bearers.
Grant started his head coaching career in 2006 at VCU, where he had a very successful three-year stint. While at VCU, the Rams won three Colonial Athletic Association regular season crowns and two CAA conference tournament titles. The Rams, who posted a 76-25 record in the three years, made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Following the 2009 campaign, Grant took over at Alabama. Grant had a semi-successful stint with the Crimson Tide leading them to an 117-85 record in six years. He directed the Crimson Tide to one NCAA Tournament and three NIT appearances.